Supreme Court Rules on Recruitment Process: No Midway Changes, Ensures Transparency

The Supreme Court clarifies that recruitment procedures cannot be altered mid-process unless existing rules permit. The court emphasizes transparency, non-discrimination, and rationality in recruitment practices. Additionally, candidates in a select list have no guaranteed right to appointment, and gaps in rules can be filled by administrative instructions.

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has stated that the recruitment selection process for public services cannot be modified halfway unless the current rules explicitly allow such changes. The Supreme Court highlighted the necessity for transparent and non-discriminatory procedures.

A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud unanimously held that, in the absence of specified rules, administrative instructions could be issued to fill in gaps, provided they align with constitutional provisions and statutory requirements. Any changes in the recruitment process must align with Article 14 of the Constitution to avoid arbitrariness.

The ruling further clarified past judgments, affirming that candidates listed as selected have no automatic claim to appointments. The decision came as the court examined the case of 'Tej Prakash Pathak and Others' versus the 'Rajasthan High Court and others', asserting that the state must justify any refusal to appoint listed candidates.