In Brief
This case concerned whether the government could cancel an entire recruitment examination for the post of Head Clerk (Grade II DASS) after discovering systemic irregularities including non-randomization, impersonation, mass cheating, denial of equal access, and geographic concentration of candidates. The Supreme Court held that when credible investigations reveal systemic fraud undermining the entire process's legitimacy, a recruiting authority may validly cancel the entire examination without segregating individual candidates. While recognizing the hardship to innocent candidates, the Court prioritized public confidence in government recruitment and found the cumulative irregularities vitiated the process itself. The judgment upheld the cancellation, overruling the Tribunal and High Court which had confined relief to six specific candidates who had challenged the decision.
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