Rajasthan High Court Upholds Cancellation of 2021 SI Recruitment Over Paper Leaks
In a significant ruling, the Rajasthan High Court on Saturday upheld the cancellation of the Sub-Inspector (SI) Recruitment-2021, affirming a previous judgment that scrapped the entire process due to alleged paper leaks, malpractice, and widespread irregularities.
Division Bench Dismisses Appeals, Backs Single-Bench Ruling
A division bench led by Acting Chief Justice SP Sharma dismissed appeals filed by the state government and selected candidates, thereby upholding the August 28, 2025 judgment of Justice Sameer Jain. The bench emphasized that "if the sanctity, transparency, and fairness of an examination are compromised, cancellation of the entire process is justified."
This decision reinforces the court's stance on maintaining integrity in public recruitment processes, particularly in light of the serious allegations that marred the 2021 SI exam.
Partial Relief and Directives for Reform
In a partial relief, the division bench set aside the suo motu cognisance taken by the single bench against Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) members, stating that "such direct action was not appropriate in the present case." However, it refused to quash the single bench's remarks against RPSC members and dismissed their appeals.
The court also issued crucial directives to the state government:
- Develop a new legal framework to ensure transparent and merit-based appointments within the RPSC.
- Stress that political appointments should have no place in the commission.
- Initiate action against members who have faced adverse remarks in the past.
Timeline and Supreme Court Involvement
The verdict was delivered nearly two and a half months after the bench reserved its judgment on January 19, 2026. The case had previously reached the Supreme Court, which on September 24, 2025, ordered a status quo, stayed field postings of selected candidates, and directed the high court to conclude the hearing within three months.
In a related development, the Supreme Court granted relief to 714 candidates from the 2021 SI recruitment exam on Friday, allowing them to re-appear in the SI Recruitment Exam-2026 scheduled for April 5 and April 6.
Reactions and Implications
Counsel for petitioner Kailash Chandra Sharma, Harendra Neel, described the ruling as a "bold decision." He noted, "The division bench has not removed the remarks made by the single bench against the RPSC members, however suo motu cognizance against the functioning of RPSC has been withdrawn by the bench."
This judgment underscores the judiciary's commitment to upholding fairness in recruitment processes and sets a precedent for handling similar cases of examination malpractice in the future.
