04 April 2024 RTI – Right to Information >> Miscellaneous  

A group of candidates who aspired to become Police Sub-Inspectors (PSIs) in Maharashtra have come up short in their legal fight after failing to secure a spot during the initial recruitment process.

The petitioners, belonging to Other Backward Class (OBC) and Denotified Tribes (DT-A) categories, secured marks exceeding the cut-off for their respective groups. However, due to limited vacancies, they were not selected.

Their argument hinged on being considered for the post in future recruitment drives. The court, however, dismissed their petition, citing several reasons.

Firstly, all vacancies from the 2017 advertisement, the year they applied, had already been filled. Secondly, the court expressed concerns about disrupting the fairness of the recruitment process for subsequent years (2019 onwards) if the petitioners were included.

The decision also highlighted a delay on the petitioners' part. They waited nearly a year after the results were declared to file a petition challenging the selection process.

Missed chance and delayed challenge cost Petitioners:

The court acknowledged the petitioners' disappointment but ultimately prioritized upholding a fair recruitment process for future batches. Additionally, the delay in filing their petition weakened their case.

This case serves as a reminder for aspiring candidates to be proactive and challenge any perceived irregularities in the selection process promptly. It also highlights the importance of a well-defined recruitment process to ensure fairness and avoid disruptions.

Right to Information Act, 2005