Will the Rajasthan HC Resolve the SI Recruitment Case Tomorrow?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Rajasthan HC is hearing the SI Recruitment-2021 case.
- Concerns have been raised about decision-making delays from the Chief Minister.
- The investigation into the recruitment process is ongoing due to paper leak allegations.
- Several petitions have been filed regarding the recruitment's validity.
- The case's outcome could impact future public examination protocols.
Jaipur, July 7 (NationPress) The Rajasthan High Court has commenced the final hearing concerning the Sub-Inspector (SI) Recruitment-2021 case, which will proceed on June 8.
During Monday’s session, the arguments from the government’s representatives were not completed in the court overseen by Justice Sameer Jain, leading to the continuation of the hearing on Tuesday. The court expressed concerns regarding the delays in decision-making by the Chief Minister, questioning why no action was taken even after receiving the first recommendation from the Cabinet Sub-Committee dated December 10, 2024.
In defense of the government, Advocate General Rajendra Prasad and Additional Advocate General Vigyan Shah clarified that the initial recommendation stemmed from a preliminary report by the Special Operations Group (SOG), which only suggested potential broader involvement in the paper leak scandal. Consequently, the Chief Minister mandated a more thorough investigation before making any decisions.
The government further asserted that the petitioners have selectively referenced previous reports, including the Cabinet Sub-Committee’s initial recommendation for cancellation of the recruitment. However, they failed to contest the latest report from the same committee, which now advises proceeding with the recruitment.
Therefore, the government contends that the petition is baseless and ought to be dismissed. Additionally, they accused the petitioners of concealing important facts from the court, noting that the petitioners had previously filed a similar plea in 2022 following the paper leak but later withdrew it. After participating in the recruitment process without disclosing their earlier petition, they approached the court again when they did not make the merit list, raising doubts about their motives.
The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) had announced recruitment for 859 posts of Sub-Inspector and Platoon Commander in 2021. Following the examination, allegations of a paper leak emerged, prompting the state government to assign the investigation to the SOG, resulting in several arrests, including that of trainee SIs.
Subsequent petitions were filed in the High Court demanding cancellation of the recruitment. Earlier, Justice Sameer Jain’s bench had issued status quo orders regarding the recruitment process on November 18, January 6, and January 9.
As per the court's directive, the Police Headquarters issued an order on January 10, 2025, imposing a complete ban on field training for the selected candidates, a ban that remains in effect.
The outcome of this case is poised to have significant ramifications for the recruitment process and broader accountability in public examinations.