In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court overturned a High Court decision that had granted bail to two individuals accused of using unfair means in a public recruitment examination. This decision underscores the judiciary’s intolerance for corruption in public sector recruitment processes.
Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, presiding over the bench, emphasized that the integrity of public examinations is crucial for maintaining public trust in governmental hiring. The case involved the Assistant Engineer Civil (Autonomous Governance Department) Competitive Examination-2022, where it was alleged that unfair means were used, including the use of a “dummy candidate” and tampering with the attendance sheet.
The Rajasthan High Court had earlier granted bail to the accused, citing their lack of criminal antecedents and the duration of their custody. However, the Supreme Court noted that while these factors are relevant, they must be weighed against the seriousness of the allegations and their impact on society.
The apex court criticized the breach of examination protocols, stating, “In India, the reality is that there are far more takers of government jobs than there are jobs available. Absolute scrupulousness in the recruitment process is imperative to ensure that only those truly deserving are appointed.”
The Supreme Court’s decision came after an appeal by the state of Rajasthan against the High Court’s bail order. In its ruling, the Supreme Court directed that the accused surrender to the court within two weeks and allowed them the opportunity to apply for bail afresh during the ongoing trial, clarifying that its observations were specifically for evaluating the bail decision and should not influence the trial’s merits.
