Shocking Lows: Rajasthan HC Sounds Alarm on Near-Zero Cut-Offs in Government Jobs

In a stark critique of recruitment practices, the Rajasthan High Court at Jaipur has pulled up the state government over abysmally low cut-off marks for reserved categories in Class-IV employee hiring. Justice Anand Sharma, hearing writ petition No. 3098/2026 filed by Vinod Kumar against the State of Rajasthan, refused to entertain the petitioner's claim of unfair rejection despite negative marks, instead directing a detailed affidavit to explain the "serious lapse."

The Petitioner's Plight: Negative Marks in a Near-Zero Race

Vinod Kumar, son of Pyarelal, approached the court after his candidature for Class-IV posts was rejected solely due to scoring below zero in the exam. His twist? Reserved category cut-offs dipped to as low as 0.0033 marks , with no minimum qualifying threshold prescribed. The petitioner argued this made his negative score irrelevant, positioning him for selection.

News reports echoed the anomaly, highlighting how such thresholds raised eyebrows in a recruitment drive meant for entry-level government roles, amplifying the court's initial surprise.

State's Silence Sparks Judicial Scrutiny

While full arguments from the respondent—represented by Additional Advocate General Kapil Prakash Mathur—weren't detailed in the order, the court noted no proper explanation for skipping minimum qualifying marks. The bench questioned if the exam was "unnecessarily difficult" for basic posts or if standards were simply not upheld, both scenarios deemed unacceptable for public employment.

Court's Blunt Verdict: Competency Over Cut-Offs

Justice Sharma emphasized the state's duty as appointing authority: even reserved categories demand candidates capable of "basic duties satisfactorily." The order pulls no punches, warning of "strict orders" and "adverse inferences" if explanations falter.

"A person who secures near zero or negative marks cannot reasonably be considered suitable."

The court directed Principal Secretary of the concerned department to file an affidavit detailing: - Reasons for such cut-off marks. - The lapse in not fixing minimum qualifying standards. - Proposed steps to rectify this "objectionable situation."

The matter is listed for March 9, 2026 , for compliance review.

Pivotal Quotes from the Bench

Key Observations straight from the judgment underscore the court's dismay:

  1. "It is surprising that the petitioner has filed this writ petition contending therein that, in the recruitment process for Class-IV Employees, the cut-off marks for some reserved categories were as low as 0.0033, yet the petitioner's candidature was rejected only because he secured negative marks (below zero), even though no minimum qualifying marks were prescribed. This situation is shocking..."

  2. "The State, as the appointing authority, is expected to ensure minimum standards in recruitment even for reserved category, so that selected candidates are capable of performing basic duties satisfactorily..."

  3. "The situation indicates either that the examination was unnecessarily difficult for such entry level posts or that proper standards were not maintained; both of which are unacceptable."

Broader Ripples: A Call for Recruitment Reform?

This interim order doesn't quash the rejection but pivots to systemic fixes, potentially reshaping how Rajasthan—and beyond—sets bars for low-skill government jobs. It reinforces that public hiring can't compromise on bare-minimum competence, even amid reservation policies. Future recruitments may now prioritize explicit qualifying marks, averting repeats of this "shocking" scenario.