In a significant ruling, the Rajasthan High Court has intervened in the recruitment process for the prestigious Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) 2023, directing authorities to revise the merit list for ex-servicemen candidates. The order came after a petition challenged the eligibility of the candidate who had secured the top rank in the reserved category.
Court Directs Immediate Revision of Merit List
A single-judge bench of Justice Ashok Kumar Jain issued the directive on Thursday. The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by ex-servicemen candidates, including Narendra Singh. The court disposed of the petition with clear instructions for the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and the state government.
The core directive mandates that the authorities reshuffle and revise the merit list specifically for the ex-servicemen category in the RAS 2023 recruitment. Furthermore, the court explicitly ordered that the candidate in question should not be granted appointment under the ex-servicemen quota.
Grounds of Ineligibility Exposed
The petition, argued by counsel Harendra Neel, centered on a critical legal definition. The petitioners contended that the candidate holding Rank No. 1 in the ex-servicemen category did not meet the official criteria to be classified as an ex-serviceman.
According to the argument, the candidate had voluntarily resigned from the Indian Navy before completing the mandatory service period of 20 years. Crucially, the counsel stated the individual was not receiving any pensionary benefits. This disqualified him under Rule 3A of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Absorption of Ex-servicemen) Rules, 1988, which governs reservation benefits for ex-servicemen in state services.
Government Clarification Seals the Case
The court's decision was bolstered by an official clarification from the state government. During the hearing on Wednesday, the bench had sought a clear stance from the Department of Personnel (DoP) and directed the RPSC to obtain instructions.
On Thursday, the DoP counsel informed the court that the Joint Secretary, through an order dated December 3, 2025, had officially determined that the said candidate is not an ex-serviceman as per the applicable rules. Taking formal note of this government decision, Justice Jain's bench proceeded to issue the final order for revising the merit list.
This ruling underscores the judiciary's role in ensuring strict adherence to reservation rules in public recruitment. It brings relief to other eligible ex-servicemen candidates awaiting their results for the RAS 2023 examination, as the merit list will now be corrected to reflect only those who are legally entitled to the quota benefits.
