'If We Find Irregularity, We Will Reverse' : Supreme Court To Hear Plea Against Rajasthan Civil Judge Exam Tomorrow

The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow the challenge to the Rajasthan Civil Judge Cadre Exam, 2024 for alleged "arbitrary and flawed" evaluations. 

The counsel for the petitioner mentioned before the bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud that the matter required an urgent hearing since the interviews for the judicial services would commence today itself. 

"The interviews will start anytime today....We can argue the matter today my lords," she submitted.

CJI replied that yesterday, when a similar matter was called out, no one appeared; however, the bench refrained from dismissing it for default and posted the matter tomorrow.

The counsel who mentioned the matter clarified that the petition which was listed yesterday was filed by another counsel and that she was mentioning another matter. She requested a hearing today itself.

However, the CJI said that both matters will be considered tomorrow. When the counsel pointed out that the interviews are happening today, CJI assured, "if we find irregularity, we will reverse."

Background: Recruitment for Civil Judge Cadre, 2024

The Rajasthan High Court (the “Recruiting Authority”), in compliance with the Rajasthan Judicial Services Rules, 2010, opened 222 vacancies for direct recruitment to the Civil Judge Cadre. The selection process follows a rigorous three-stage process: a Preliminary Examination, a Main Examination, and a Viva Voce (Interview). Out of approximately 3,000 candidates who qualified for the Main Examination held on August 31 and September 1, 2024, only 638 candidates progressed to the interview stage. 

Grounds for Petition: Discrepancies in Evaluation and Lack of Transparency

The candidates allege that after the results of the Main Examination were released on October 1, 2024, their scorecards revealed inexplicably low marks—between 0 and 15—specifically in the English Essay paper. This irregular scoring starkly contrasts with their otherwise strong performances, leaving the petitioners unable to reach the interview cut-off. Given the subjective nature of essay writing and the absence of any minimum qualifying mark for language papers, the petitioners emphasize that this opaque evaluation method has produced arbitrary results, impacting their fundamental rights and careers. 

The petitioner requested the Supreme Court intervene to ensure an impartial re-evaluation of their answer sheets by an independent expert committee. They argue that the flawed evaluation process undermines their constitutional right to equal opportunity, enshrined in Article 14, and that a transparent, fair process is essential for upholding judicial integrity in Rajasthan's recruitment for the judiciary.

Case : MS SONAL GUPTA AND OTHERS Vs. REGISTRAR GENERAL RAJASHTAN HIGH COURT JODHPUR AND ANOTHER | Diary Number 47205/2024 .