The Supreme Court has ruled that belonging to a backward community cannot be the sole reason for favor in government employment, emphasizing the need for a fair and level playing field for all candidates.
The court's decision came while allowing an appeal filed by the Delhi Police against orders of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and the Delhi High Court, which had directed the police to give a second opportunity to a candidate who had failed to appear for a crucial stage of the recruitment process.
The candidate had cleared the initial stage of recruitment for the post of constable but did not appear for the Physical Endurance and Measurement Test (PE&MT), citing illness in January 2024.
The Supreme Court, however, found the approach untenable, describing the case as a "classic example" of irresponsibility and noting that the candidate had "frittered away a golden opportunity" by choosing not to appear on the scheduled date.
The court emphasized that recruitment processes, especially those involving large-scale public employment, must adhere strictly to notified conditions, and that relaxing norms for one candidate would undermine the integrity of the entire selection process.
