SC modifies order, revokes relief for 2.21L Rajasthan SI candidates

The Supreme Court has modified its order, restricting relief to appear in the Rajasthan SI exam to only one petitioner, Suraj Mal Meena. It revoked the provisional permission granted to 2.21 lakh candidates after the RPSC cited logistical issues.

The Supreme Court on Friday modified its order passed on Thursday, by which it had granted relief to around 2.21 lakh candidates by permitting them to provisionally appear in the Rajasthan Sub-Inspector (SI)/Platoon Commander Recruitment Examination 2025. The earlier order was passed on a plea filed by one candidate, Suraj Mal Meena, who had sought deferment of the examination by at least four weeks on the ground that he had been unable to appear for the exam scheduled on April 5-6.

RPSC Cites Inability to Accommodate Candidates

On Friday, a special bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma modified the earlier order while hearing a plea filed by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission, which expressed its inability to accommodate such a large number of candidates.

Relief Limited to Original Applicant

The Court consequently restricted the relief only to the original applicant, Suraj Mal Meena, and not to the other candidates. It clarified that its earlier directions, particularly paragraphs 5, 6 and 7, would be confined only to Meena and would not extend to any other candidate.

The Court reasoned that, apart from Meena, no other candidate had approached it seeking similar relief. However, it clarified that the remaining candidates would be at liberty to approach the Court after the Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court delivers its ruling on the issue.

Court Notes RPSC's Submission

During the hearing, the RPSC submitted that it had already issued admit cards to 713 candidates who had either approached the High Court or submitted representations to the Commission after being unable to appear for the examination. Counsel for the RPSC argued that Meena had misled the Court by seeking deferment of the exam despite already having been issued an admit card, along with around 700 similarly placed candidates.

The Court also noted that, apart from Meena, none of the 2.21 lakh candidates had appeared before it seeking relief. It therefore proceeded to modify its earlier order by limiting the benefit only to Meena.

Exam to Proceed as Scheduled

In view of today's order, the examination will proceed as scheduled on April 5-6. The apex court, however, clarified that those remaining candidates would be at liberty to approach the court after the Division Bench of the Rajasthan HC issued its ruling on the issue.

The issue on which the Rajasthan HC has reserved its decision relates to the age limit criteria, where the petitioner argued that several candidates have been excluded due to a lack of age relaxation. (ANI)

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