ASHISH S/O YASHWANT HARDE AND OTHERS Vs THE STATE OF MAHA. THR. SECRETARY HOME MINISTRY, MANTRALAYA, MUMBAI AND ORS.
Ashish Harde and others were chosen as Police Patils after a written test and interviews. However, complaints about cheating in the interviews led to an investigation.
Those who didn't get selected claimed the interviews were unfair. The Collector of Bhandara ordered a check, which found the process was flawed. This led to the cancellation of the successful candidates' appointments.
"The selection process was not conducted in a fair manner," the investigation report stated.
The successful candidates challenged their firing at the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT). At first, the tribunal sided with them, but the High Court sent the decision back to the tribunal for another look.
After reviewing, the tribunal agreed to cancel the appointments, pointing out that the interview committee was not set up properly and there were issues in the interview process.
The High Court, with Judges Anil S. Kilor and Rajnish R. Vyas in charge, rejected the appeals by the successful candidates. The court found the interview process was not trustworthy because of unauthorized decisions and inconsistent scoring methods.
"The integrity of the selection process is full of doubt," the judgment noted.
The court's decision emphasizes the need to follow proper procedures in hiring to ensure fairness and clarity. The temporary relief for the petitioners was extended for four weeks, giving them a short period of relief.
"No case is made out by the petitioners which require interference," concluded the judges.
This case underlines the importance of honesty in public job appointments, making sure all candidates are judged fairly.
