Rajasthan High Court Upholds Cancellation of 2021 SI Recruitment Process
In a significant ruling, the Rajasthan High Court on Saturday upheld the cancellation of the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment process conducted in 2021. The decision reinforces an earlier single-bench judgment that scrapped the entire process due to alleged paper leaks, malpractices, and large-scale irregularities.
Court's Stance on Transparency and Fairness
The division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice S P Sharma and Justice Sangeeta Sharma, dismissed appeals filed by the state government and some candidates. The bench upheld the August 28, 2025, judgment of Justice Sameer Jain, emphasizing that "if the sanctity, transparency and fairness of an examination are compromised, cancellation of the entire process is justified."
The court observed that selections to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) – the agency overseeing the recruitment – should not be influenced by political considerations. It directed the state government to identify those involved in the paper leaks and take appropriate action against them.
Key Aspects of the Ruling
The division bench set aside the suo motu cognisance taken by Justice Jain regarding the functioning of RPSC members, stating that "such direct action was not appropriate in the present case." However, it refused to quash the remarks made against RPSC members while dismissing their appeals.
Furthermore, the court instructed the state government to establish a new legal framework to ensure transparent and merit-based appointments within the RPSC. This move aims to prevent future irregularities in recruitment processes.
Background and Timeline of the Case
Saturday's verdict came nearly two-and-a-half months after the bench reserved its judgment on January 19. The case had previously reached the Supreme Court, which on September 24 last year ordered status quo, stayed field postings of selected candidates, and directed the High Court to conclude its hearing within three months.
In arguments before the court, senior advocate R P Singh and advocate Harendra Neel highlighted widespread paper leaks and the involvement of organized criminal gangs in the 2021 SI recruitment process.
Reactions and Implications
Following the verdict, R P Singh expressed hope that "the process of conducting examinations will be thoroughly overhauled now and the working of the RPSC would also be kept under scrutiny." Advocate Harendra Neel thanked the court for its "bold decision", noting that the division bench did not remove earlier remarks against RPSC members but only withdrew the suo motu cognisance.
In a related development, the Supreme Court on Friday granted relief to 714 candidates who appeared in the 2021 SI recruitment exam. They have been allowed to reappear in the 2026 edition of the exam scheduled for April 5 and 6.
This ruling underscores the judiciary's commitment to upholding integrity in public service recruitment and sets a precedent for addressing corruption in examination processes.
