The High Court has granted relief to candidates who passed the CGPSC 2021 examination. The court has directed the government to issue appointment letters within 60 days.
CGPSC 2021: Relief has come for the candidates who passed the PSC 2021 examination in Chhattisgarh. The Bilaspur High Court has directed the state government to issue appointment letters within 60 days to those candidates against whom no irregularities have surfaced in the CBI investigation. This order is a major relief for dozens of candidates who have been waiting for appointment letters for a long time.
Candidates Who Get a Clean Chit in CBI Investigation Will Get Appointment Letters
The High Court clarified that this relief will only be given to those candidates who have passed the examination and whose name is neither in the CBI chargesheet nor any criminal facts have emerged against them. The court said that depriving such candidates of appointment is not only unfair but also unconstitutional.
CGPSC Examination 2021 and Background of the Dispute
Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) had issued a recruitment for a total of 171 posts under the State Service Examination on November 26, 2021. It included important posts like Deputy Collector, DSP, Naib Tehsildar, Accounts Officer, Jail Superintendent. The results of the examination were declared on May 11, 2023. But after the results, allegations of large-scale irregularities and rigging were made, due to which there was widespread discontent among the candidates.
Government Handed Over the Investigation to CBI
When allegations of rigging surfaced, the state government handed over the investigation of the entire matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). As soon as the investigation started in 2023, the appointment process was put on hold by the Commission. After this decision, the candidates filed a petition in the High Court, demanding that appointment letters be issued. More than 60 candidates reached the court seeking justice.
High Court Hearing and Decision
Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad of the Bilaspur High Court, while hearing this petition, gave an important verdict. He clarified that the selection of candidates against whom there is no criminal fact or chargesheet cannot be doubted only because of the remaining cases.
He further said that if any irregularity or criminal involvement comes to light against any candidate in future, he can be removed from service, but it is not appropriate to stop his appointment for the time being.
Court's Comment on the Role of the Government
The Court also clarified that conducting the examination and declaring the results is the job of CGPSC, but issuing appointment letters is the responsibility of the state government. In such a situation, the government cannot play with the future of the students. Keeping the appointment pending is injustice to the eligible candidates. The court said that the government will have to issue appointment letters within 60 days without any delay.
Candidates with Clean Image Should Get Justice: High Court
According to the High Court, if some candidates are under suspicion or investigation is going on, then all the selected candidates cannot be affected on that basis. Candidates who have been proven innocent in the investigation should be given an opportunity to come into government service. There is no constitutional basis for keeping the appointment letter pending.
