HC dismisses writs on cops recruitment

The division bench of the Telangana High Court, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice T. Vinod Kumar, on Saturday dismissed a batch of writ petitions filed by police aspirants challenging the recruitment notifications issued by the board.

The petitioners contested the board's decision not to prioritise the NCC ‘C’ certificate over the ‘B’ certificate, and the ‘B’ certificate over the ‘A’ certificate in the recruitment process, deeming it illegal, arbitrary, discriminatory, and against principles of natural justice.

The petitioners argued that merit-based selection, as per Rule 3(D)(vi) under GO 14, dated April 8, 2002, violated Constitutional articles 14, 16, 19(g), and 21, as well as contradicted a circular issued by the Union ministry of home affairs, dated April 20, 2020. They highlighted the distinct training levels required for NCC certificates and the corresponding incentive/bonus marks entitled to each grade, emphasizing the disparity among the A, B and C certificates.

In response, the TS Level Police Recruitment Board said it adhered strictly to the Telangana Police (Stipendiary Cadet Trainee) Rules. The board argued that GO 14, which substituted certain rules, was valid and that Rule 3(D)(vi) was amended earlier by GO 49, treating NCC ‘C’ and ‘B’ certificate holders as equal in specific recruitments.

It said that candidates with NCC certificates, regardless of their grade, were considered a special category eligible for reservation on a horizontal basis. The board said that the petitioners, who failed in various stages of the selection process in December 2022, were raising objections as an afterthought. After considering the arguments from both sides, the court concluded that the petitioners failed to present justiciable grounds to halt the recruitment process.

Chief Justice Alok Aradhe said that the writ petitions lacked merit.