Court Stays On Assam Police Constable Recruitment Process

Inputs by Jadumoni Saikia

Based on the petitions, filed by 167 candidates mentioning that the Assam police constable recruitment process in 2010 was marred with lot of discrepancies, the Gauhati High Court yesterday ordered for stay of the recruitment process.

The petitioners, who are 167 in numbers having claimed to have a common cause of action against the respondents have joined hands in filing the writ petition.

The facts of the case in brief is that the Inspector General of Police (Administration) caused the publication of an advertisement on 20.02.2009, notifying the recruitment of Armed Branch Constable in Assam Police (for ONGC security) Battalion/24th Assam Police (IR) Battalion and 1002 numbers of vacant post of Armed Branch Constables.

As per the advertisement, a recruitment rally was to be conducted in different police district/battalions tentatively in the month of June, 2009 for selecting candidates for appointment as Armed Branch Constable. The advertisement amongst others also provided that 10% of the vacancies will be reserved for women candidates.

COURT'S ORDER ON THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

1) The respondents are directed to consider the case of the petitioners for their appointment to the post of Armed Branch Constable or in any other equivalent post in the vacancies available i.e. current and next available vacancies. If the vacancies are limited, the petitioners will be considered in a phase manner till all of them are considered.

2) If it is found that the petitioners in the meantime have become overaged, the respondent authorities shall give them age relaxation as may be required.

3) It is made clear that the respondents without considering the case of the petitioners shall not fill up any post of Armed Branch Constable.