Rajasthan High Court Cancels 2021 SI Recruitment For Irregularities; Takes Suo-Motu Notice Of Systemic Malpractices In RPSC

The Rajasthan High Court cancelled the 2021 recruitment undertaken by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) of candidates to the post of Sub-Inspectors, in the background of revelation of systemic irregularities–paper leak, cheating during examination, use of dummy candidates–in the conduct of the entire process.The court said that such recruitment process ought to be canceled and this cancellation is "necessary to uphold the integrity of the State in the conduct of public recruitment examinations". In doing so the court also took suo-moto cognizance of the “systemic malpractices” within RPSC in the State "in light of the grave improprieties and malpractices that have been brought to light, involving members of the RPSC". In 2021, RPSC had advertised for the post. Prior to the conduct of the first stage of the examination, there was a leakage of the papers across the state and multiple FIRs were filed alleging malpractices in the conduct of the exam. Complaints were also filed before the State seeking cancellation of the paper. However, the recruitment process was not cancelled, and appointments took place. One of the FIRs also alleged connection of an RPSC representative, working as a Centre Superintendent in one of the centers, with the person who spearheaded the paper leak, as well as his involvement in the offence.A Special Investigation Team was constituted in 2023 which revealed several unfair methods, on a large scale, in the examination, and thus recommended cancellation of the same.Selection process sullied by egregious malpractices has to be cancelledPerusing the SIT report, Justice Sameer Jain in his 202 page order observed:"...this Court is strongly of the opinion, after having been convinced beyond any shadow of doubt, that the impugned selection process of Sub-Inspectors, as conducted by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) in the Year 2021, ought to be canceled in its entirety. This conclusion is inescapable when one considers the widespread and egregious malpractices that have sullied the said selection process. In the context of the facts of the present case, characterizing the pervasive and injurious actions that have occurred as mere 'malpractices' would be an exercise in linguistic politeness. The reality is that these actions encompass not only reprehensible and ghastly instances of paper leakages that occurred across the entire State of Rajasthan through gangs working in sync for monetary benefits but also the shocking and unacceptable substitution of actual candidates with dummy candidates, made possible due to the unimaginable negligence on part of RPSC".The court observed that these "heinous acts were perpetrated with the active connivance of certain officials" who were entrusted with the critical responsibility of ensuring that a "safe, secure, and fraud preclusive environment" was provided for the candidates appearing in the examination. Gangs involved in paper leakThe court further observed that it was established through evidence and investigation that the examination papers for all three scheduled days of the examination-September 13, 14 and 15 2021, were leaked by various organized gangs operating within the State. These gangs include the "Kaler Gang, Narendra Khinchhad, Amit Kumar, as well as the Jagdish Bishnoi Gang", it observed. It further, said that these distinct gangs (Jagdish Bishnoi and Co.) aided and "assisted Paurav Kaler of the Kaler Gang" by selling him leaked papers for monetary considerations when he was unable to obtain them himself in Bikaner. This highlighted an intrinsic and interconnected network of individuals across the State who not only engaged in paper leaks themselves, being habitual offenders in this sphere of crime prior to the incident in question, but also collaborated and expanded the reach of the leaked papers across the State for monetary benefits, it said.The court said that as shown from the SIT report dated 13.08.2024, it was established by way of investigation that the leak of papers was definite and occurred for all three days of the examination.It further said:“Candidates selected through corrupt means, leveraging unfair advantages and malpractices, cannot reasonably be expected to embody integrity, honesty, and transparency...Furthermore, the decision to cancel the recruitment process also finds substantial support from the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) investigation, which reveals that a large number of selections were facilitated through the use of dummy candidates. In a striking revelation, 9 Sub-Inspectors who were already undergoing training at the Rajasthan Police Academy were arrested after it was discovered that they had been selected with the assistance of dummy candidates..."The court observed that many dummy candidates involved in these malpractices are currently absconding. The SIT, through its investigation and in its report, has unequivocally stated that there is a ...

Rajasthan High Court Cancels 2021 SI Recruitment For Irregularities; Takes Suo-Motu Notice Of Systemic Malpractices In RPSC

Nupur Agrawal

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