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Golden Opportunity Lost: Supreme Court Slams "Lethargic" Police Aspirant, Rejects Second Chance Plea
In a stark reminder that public jobs demand grit over excuses, the has overturned decisions by the and , denying Uttam Kumar—a contender for Constable—a redo of the Physical Endurance and Measurement Test (PE&MT) he skipped claiming illness. Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma, in their judgment ( ), lambasted the respondent's "tardy and lethargic conduct," emphasizing that rare employment slots can't be frittered away lightly.
From Written Exam Success to Physical No-Show
The saga began with a massive recruitment drive advertised on , drawing nearly a lakh aspirants for Constable (Executive Male) posts. Uttam Kumar cleared the initial written exam but was slated for PE&MT on . Citing cold, cough, fever, headache, body pain, and dizziness, he stayed away, marked "ABSENT."
Kumar fired off three representations—dated , 14, and 25—pleading for a reserve day or 15 days to recover. The first was outright rejected; the others lack proof of receipt, casting doubt on their submission. Despite being mobile the day prior (as he admitted reporting on ), he didn't show up to explain his plight in person.
directed authorities to let him join the next batch, a call upheld by on . appealed, arguing the advertisement's ironclad rule: PE&MT dates are final, no alterations.
Police Pushback vs. Aspirant's Ailment Appeal
Appellants' (
) Arsenal:
The force highlighted the advertisement's unambiguous terms—no rescheduling under any circumstance. With lakhs competing, favoritism disrupts the level field. They questioned the representations' validity (no acknowledgments) and stressed Kumar's failure to even appear and plead his case, unlike true emergencies.
Respondent's (Uttam Kumar) Counter:
Kumar leaned on his three pleas, ignored by authorities, and his reserved category status (backward community) to invoke compassion. Lower courts bought it, seeing non-response as justification for a second shot.
Why Sympathy Can't Trump Strict Rules
The bench dissected the lapses: minor ailments didn't warrant exception; Kumar could have reported to the venue for on-spot assessment. No precedents were cited in the judgment, but the Court drew on bedrock principles of public recruitment—scarce opportunities demand initiative, not absenteeism.
Dismissing reserved status as a tilt-factor, the justices clarified:
"Grace, charity or compassion ought to stay at a distance in matters of public employment, if a
is to be secured."
Non-response to pleas doesn't birth enforceable rights when ads set rigid boundaries.
As LiveLaw reported, the Court noted Kumar was the sole seeker of rescheduling amid a lakh candidates, underscoring the process's scale.
Punchy Quotes That Pack a Punch
"Public employment is scarce. The youth of the country eagerly await such employment opportunities... Here, we have a case where the respondent... has simply frittered away a golden opportunity by staying away..."
"Not showing up and expecting a second chance, clearly demonstrates a lack of drive and initiative on the part of the respondent."
"The stakes are high... When chances are rare, one needs to grab them with both hands."
"Merely because one belongs to the backward community cannot be the decisive factor for tilting the scales."
"Given that the respondent aspired to join the police force as a Constable, his conduct leaves a lot to be desired."
Appeal Allowed: No Mulligans in Government Jobs
"We are, thus, no other option before us but to set aside the judgment and order of the Tribunal dated
, since upheld by the High Court... The appeal stands allowed."
This ruling fortifies recruitment rigidity, signaling aspirants must hustle—show up, even unwell, for any shot at accommodation. For future cases, it curbs judicial overreach via compassion, ensuring equity in high-stakes public hiring. Parties bear own costs.
