NTI: In a significant judgment on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that regulations controlling the selection process for government jobs cannot be altered once the recruitment process has started or is underway. This decision was delivered by a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, which included Justices Rishikesh Roy, PS Narasimha, Pankaj Mithal, and Manoj Mishra.
The bench emphasized that the “rules of the game” for recruitment cannot be changed mid-way through the selection process. The Court clarified that while the recruiting body may set different standards for various stages, it cannot alter these criteria once a stage is completed.
The bench also noted that the recruitment process begins as soon as the advertisement is published to invite applications and fill vacancies. Any permissible changes to existing rules or advertisements must adhere to the requirements of Article 14 of the Constitution, ensuring fairness and non-arbitrariness.
“The Process Must Be Transparent and Non-Arbitrary”
The bench highlighted the importance of transparency and fairness, stating that the recruitment body should adopt a fair and rational process to bring the recruitment to a logical conclusion. The Court further insisted that any procedures adopted should be transparent and non-arbitrary. A detailed judgment will be made available later.
