Delhi High Court Upholds Tribunal's Dismissal of Petition Over Recruitment Form Error

Court rules candidate's clerical error in application form cannot be corrected post-submission, denies plea for eligibility relaxation.

In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has upheld a decision by the Central Administrative Tribunal, dismissing a petition filed by Nisha Khan, who sought correction of errors in her recruitment application for the Delhi Police. The court emphasized the responsibility of candidates to ensure accuracy in their application forms, stating that post-submission corrections, especially those affecting eligibility, are not permissible.

The case centered around Khan's application for the position of Constable (Executive) in the Delhi Police. Due to a clerical error, Khan incorrectly filled out the form, marking 'No' instead of 'Yes' in a section that would have entitled her to a relaxation in height requirements as a ward of police personnel. Despite qualifying in other physical tests, the error led to her disqualification.

The High Court, echoing the Tribunal's earlier decision, maintained that the recruitment process's terms and conditions were clear and unambiguous, leaving no room for judicial interference. The court further noted that candidates are expected to verify and correct any inaccuracies in their forms before submission. The bench, comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Madhu Jain, ruled that allowing such corrections post-submission could disrupt the recruitment process's integrity and fairness.

The judgment referenced similar cases, including the precedent set in Pooja Devi v. Staff Selection Commission, reinforcing the principle that judicial review cannot override clear recruitment rules unless constitutional rights are violated. The court concluded that the petitioner's error was not trivial, as it directly impacted her eligibility, and thus dismissed the petition.

Bottom Line:

Recruitment process - Candidates must carefully fill out application forms and verify details before submission. Errors in application forms, especially those affecting eligibility, cannot be corrected post-submission.

Statutory provision(s): Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985

Nisha Khan v. Delhi Police, (Delhi)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2822056