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The Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark judgment concerning the recruitment process for government jobs, emphasizing the sanctity of established rules and the need for fairness in the selection process. The court's decision, pronounced by a five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, has significant implications for recruitment practices and the expectations of job aspirants. This ruling sets a precedent for ensuring that the rules governing government job recruitment are adhered to with consistency, preventing arbitrary changes that could disadvantage candidates.
The court's central argument revolves around the concept of 'rules of the game', asserting that the rules for appointment in government jobs cannot be altered midway through the recruitment process unless explicitly permitted by the existing rules or the advertisement itself. This principle of fairness and consistency is crucial to ensuring that the recruitment process remains transparent and predictable, allowing candidates to prepare and compete on a level playing field.
The Supreme Court's decision highlights the importance of clear and well-defined eligibility criteria for government jobs. The court stated that the eligibility criteria for being included in the select list, which is announced at the start of the recruitment process, cannot be changed mid-way, except under specific circumstances outlined in the existing rules or the advertisement. This principle ensures that candidates are evaluated based on the same criteria throughout the process, preventing situations where the selection criteria are shifted to favor certain individuals or groups.
Source: Recruitment rules for govt jobs can't be changed midway unless prescribed: SC