In Brief
The State of Assam conducted a recruitment process in 2014 to fill 104 Constable posts in the Forest Protection Force. After a new government took office in 2016 following elections, it cancelled the select list citing serious procedural irregularities: severe geographic imbalance, violations of reservation policy, and merit-based anomalies. Selected candidates challenged this in the High Court, which directed the process continue with rectifications. The Supreme Court reversed this, holding that mere selection does not create an indefeasible right to appointment. The Government's decision to cancel was justified, proportionate, and bona fide given the documented irregularities. The Court upheld the State's discretion to restart recruitment while offering selected candidates special relaxations in a fresh process.
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