MAHAVEER SINGH Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) At the outset, it is relevant to note that the present writ petition was preferred by total 119 petitioners. Vide order dtd. 20/4/2022, the petition was dismissed qua petitioners Nos.4, 5, 10, 13, 22, 24, 31, 40, 42, 43, 47, 54, 55, 56, 68, 69, 73, 74, 81, 82, 83, 87, 88, 98, 101, 102, 103 and 104 i.e. 28 petitioners. The present petition now survives only qua the remaining petitioners and therefore the present judgment would govern all the petitioners except petitioners Nos.4, 5, 10, 13, 22, 24, 31, 40, 42, 43, 47, 54, 55, 56, 68, 69, 73, 74, 81, 82, 83, 87, 88, 98, 101, 102, 103 and 104 (28 in number).

(2.) The present writ petition has been preferred against the information/communication dtd. 20/9/2019 (Annexure-6) whereby complete recruitment process pertaining to recruitment of 'Watchmen for manning posts' undertaken by the Food Corporation of India (hereinafter referred to as 'the FCI') has been cancelled.

(3.) The case of the petitioners is that in pursuance to advertisement No. FCI-RAJASTHAN/01/2017 issued by the FCI for recruitment to the post of 'Watchmen for manning posts' in its Depots and Offices for 281 number of vacancies, all the petitioners had applied. After the completion of the selection process including the Written Test, Physical Endurance Test (PET) and Medical Test, on 28/3/2018, the provisional select list was issued by the respondent Department in terms of which all the petitioners stood selected. Being provisionally selected, the petitioners were awaiting appointment orders but on 20/9/2019, an information was uploaded by the respondent Department on its official website to the effect that before issuing the appointment orders to the successful candidates, a Committee was constituted at the regional level for verification of the documents and the Committee pointed out certain discrepancies/irregularities and therefore, the matter was referred to the CBI for investigation. As per the report of the CBI, serious irregularities were found in the written test and attendance sheet of PET of certain candidates and therefore, criminal case has been directed to be registered. As the CBI report proves that no sanctity had been maintained in the recruitment process and there had been irregularities and impersonation in the same, the recruitment process stands cancelled. It is against the said information dtd. 20/9/2019 uploaded on the official website of the respondent Department that the present writ petition has been preferred.