The Rajasthan High Court has nullified the 2021 Sub-Inspector recruitment process conducted by the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) due to widespread systemic irregularities, including paper leaks, cheating during the examination, and the use of dummy candidates. The court emphasized that canceling the recruitment was “necessary to uphold the integrity of the State in the conduct of public recruitment examinations.” It also took suo-moto cognizance of the “systemic malpractices” within RPSC, noting “grave improprieties and malpractices” involving commission members.
In 2021, RPSC announced vacancies for Sub-Inspector posts, but prior to the initial examination stage, question papers were leaked across the state, leading to multiple FIRs alleging malpractices. Despite complaints urging cancellation, the recruitment proceeded, and appointments were made. One FIR implicated an RPSC representative, serving as a Centre Superintendent, in connection with the paper leak orchestrator.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed in 2023, uncovered extensive unfair practices and recommended annulling the process. In a 202-page order, Justice Sameer Jain stated that the selection process was marred by “widespread and egregious malpractices,” describing the paper leaks as “reprehensible and ghastly” and facilitated by organized gangs for financial gain. The court highlighted the “unimaginable negligence” of RPSC, noting that “heinous acts were perpetrated with the active connivance of certain officials” responsible for ensuring a secure examination environment.
The court identified gangs, including the Kaler Gang, Narendra Khinchhad, Amit Kumar, and Jagdish Bishnoi Gang, involved in leaking papers for all three examination days—September 13, 14, and 15, 2021. These groups operated as an interconnected network, selling leaked papers across Rajasthan. The SIT’s August 13, 2024, report confirmed the leaks and revealed that many selections involved dummy candidates, with nine Sub-Inspectors arrested during training for using such means. Many dummy candidates remain absconding, and the SIT noted that further investigation could uncover additional malpractices due to inadequate biometric checks and videography at exam centers.
The court found that approximately one in eight of the 859 selected candidates used unfair means, with the SIT suggesting this number could rise as investigations continue. The involvement of six RPSC members further undermined the process, with the court citing the Hindi idiom “Ghar ke Bedi Lanka Bahay” to highlight the betrayal by those entrusted with safeguarding the recruitment’s integrity. The SIT Chairman deemed it “impossible to separate” honest candidates from those involved in malpractices, noting additional gangs likely contributed to the leaks. As of August 13, 2024, 64 individuals, including 37 Sub-Inspectors, faced charges, with 68 others still at large.
The court criticized RPSC’s lack of transparency, noting its refusal to provide information under the Right to Information Act, citing confidentiality. This opacity raised doubts about the examination’s integrity. Consequently, the court issued directives for the state to prepare a report recommending cancellation of the 2021 process, annul all related appointments, and instruct RPSC to re-conduct the recruitment transparently under the 2021 advertisement or a new 2025 one.
Candidates were to be given adequate preparation time, and those who resigned from prior government posts to join the Sub-Inspector role were to be reinstated.
The court condemned RPSC’s framework as a “farce,” pointing to the involvement of its members and chairman in undermining the process. It criticized RPSC’s history of negligence and corruption, which has harmed countless aspirants. Taking suo-moto cognizance, the court directed the Registrar to place the order before the Chief Justice for a Public Interest Litigation to address RPSC’s systemic issues.
Case Title: Kailash Chand Sharma & Ors. v the State of Rajasthan & Ors
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