Rohit Kumar and Ors v. Staff Selection Commission & Ors

Delhi High Court · 22 Oct 2024
Navin Chawla; Shalinder Kaur
W.P.(C) 14763/2024
administrative petition_dismissed Significant

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court dismissed petitions challenging rejection in physical tests for CAPF recruitment due to lack of territorial jurisdiction as per the recruitment advertisement's jurisdiction clause.

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W.P.(C) 14763/2024 & CC
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 22.10.2024 (50)+ W.P.(C) 14763/2024
(52)+ W.P.(C) 14770/2024 (55)+ W.P.(C) 14811/2024
(58)+ W.P.(C) 14829/2024 ROHIT KUMAR AND ORS .....Petitioners
BIPUL PAUL AND ORS .....Petitioners SOURAV ADHIKARY AND ORS .....Petitioners
AJAY KUMAR AND ORS .....Petitioners
Through: Mr.Ajay Garg, Ms.Tripti Gola,Mr.Uday Garg, Ms.Surbhi
Soni, Mr.Ganesh Ojha, Advs.
VERSUS
STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION & ORS .....Respondents
Through: Mr.Anshuman Singh, SPC, Mr.Vidur Dwivedi, GP
WITH
Mr.Ajay Pal, Mr.Shiv Kr.
Singh, SI-CRPF (in item no.50).
Mr.Ajay Kr. Panday, SPC (in item no.52).
Ms.Iram Majid, CGSC, Mr.Mohd. Suboor, Adv.
WITH
Mr.Shiv Kumar, SI-CRPF (in item no.55).
Mr.Rishabh Sahu, SPC, Ms.Rashi Mangal, GP, Mr.Sameer Sharma, Adv. (in item no.58).
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAVIN CHAWLA
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SHALINDER KAUR NAVIN CHAWLA, J. (Oral)
CM APPL. 62041/2024 (Exemption) in W.P.(C) 14763/2024
CM APPL. 62072/2024 (Exemption) in W.P.(C) 14770/2024
CM APPL. 62255/2024 (Exemption) in W.P.(C) 14811/2024
CM APPL. 62301/2024 (Exemption) in W.P.(C) 14829/2024
JUDGMENT

1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. W.P.(C) 14763/2024 & CM APPL. 62042/2024 W.P.(C) 14770/2024 & CM APPL. 62073/2024 W.P.(C) 14811/2024 & CM APPL. 62256/2024 W.P.(C) 14829/2024 & CM APPL. 62302/2024

2. These petitions have been filed by the petitioners, challenging the rejection slips issued by the respondents, declaring the petitioners unfit for appointment in the Physical Standard Test (in short, ‘PST’) (height/chest) in the selection process for the post of Constable (GD) in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Secretariat Security Force (SSF), and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles - 2024.

3. The petitioners have applied for the said post pursuant to the Notice dated 24.11.2023 issued by the respondents for the appointment to the above posts. Clause 18 of the said advertisement reads as under:

“18 Court’s Jurisdiction: Any dispute in regard to this recruitment will be subject to courts having jurisdiction over the place of Regional Office concerned of the Commission where the candidate has appeared for the Computer Based Examination.”

4. Admittedly, none of the petitioners have appeared for the Computer Based Examination in Delhi. Their PST was also not conducted in Delhi.

5. This Court, on an objection of the respondents for lack of territorial jurisdiction for adjudicating a petition raising a similar issue, in its Order dated 25.07.2024 passed in W.P.(C) 8480/2024, titled Uttam Kumar v. Union of India Through Its Secretary and Others, has held as under:

“8. Having considered the submissions of learned counsel for the parties and perused the record, we are of the considered view that once the advertisement pursuant to which the petitioner had applied contained a specific clause providing for territorial jurisdiction of the Court/Tribunal situated in the area where the test was held. 9. The petitioner cannot now be permitted to argue that the clauses mentioned in the advertisement are not binding on him. We are, therefore, of the opinion that this Court does not have territorial jurisdiction to entertain the present writ petition. The writ petition is, accordingly, disposed of, by granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the Court having territorial jurisdiction.”

6. Being bound by the above Judgment, we dispose of the present petitions, reserving the liberty of the petitioners to approach the Court of competent jurisdiction.

7. All pending applications are also disposed of.

8. Dasti NAVIN CHAWLA, J SHALINDER KAUR, J OCTOBER 22, 2024/Arya/DG Click here to check corrigendum, if any