The Supreme Court has clarified that belonging to a backward community cannot, by itself, provide any special advantage in government employment. In a recent judgement, the apex court stressed that public recruitment must remain impartial, and considerations of sympathy, social background, or charity have no place in the selection process. Recruitment decisions should strictly follow the notified rules and conditions to ensure fairness for all aspirants.

The case in question involved a candidate who had cleared the initial stage of recruitment for the Delhi Police constable post but failed to appear for the Physical Endurance and Measurement Test (PE&MT) in January 2024, citing illness. While the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and later the Delhi High Court directed the Delhi Police to allow the candidate to take the test with a subsequent batch, the Supreme Court found this approach unacceptable.

The bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma described the candidate’s absence as a “classic example” of irresponsibility. The court noted that the opportunity to appear for a government recruitment test is rare and must be seized with full commitment. Relaxing norms for one individual, the court warned, could undermine the integrity of a large-scale selection process that involves tens of thousands of candidates.

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The Supreme Court also emphasized that the candidate’s illness did not justify exceptional treatment. With nearly a lakh candidates participating, the respondent was the only one seeking rescheduling, highlighting that his absence reflected a lack of drive and initiative. The bench remarked that at minimum, the candidate should have reported to the venue and sought accommodation rather than expecting special concessions.

Ultimately, the Supreme Court set aside the orders of the CAT and Delhi High Court, ruling that the candidate had no enforceable right to request a rescheduling of the test. The judgement reinforces the principle that public employment is merit-based, and social background alone cannot be a decisive factor, ensuring fairness and equal opportunity in government recruitment processes.

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