Court says candidate who missed correction windows cannot seek alteration of category post-result; selection process must remain consistent from start to finish.
The Rajasthan High Court has dismissed a special appeal filed by Munni Devi, who sought correction of her category from “OBC Widow” to “General Widow” in a Class-IV recruitment process after the declaration of results.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur and Justice Sandeep Shah upheld the order of the Single Judge, holding that the appellant had multiple opportunities to rectify the alleged error in her online application but failed to do so within the time permitted by the recruitment advertisement and a later press note issued by the authorities.
According to the court, the recruitment advertisement dated 12 December 2024 specifically allowed candidates to correct mistakes in the application form within seven days of the cut-off date on payment of a prescribed fee. The respondents also issued a press note on 7 October 2025 granting another window for corrections between 6 October and 16 October 2025. The court noted that the appellant did not avail either opportunity.
The appellant had argued that the category entry was mistakenly made by the E-Mitra operator and that she had approached the authorities before the written examination and again after the result. She contended that she belonged to the General category and should be considered under the General Widow category, especially since her marks were higher than the cut-off for that category.
However, the court rejected this plea, observing that the selection process is an integrated continuum and that a candidate cannot be permitted to change category midway or after the result has been declared. Relying on the Supreme Court’s ruling in J&K Public Service Commission v. Israr Ahmad and the Supreme Court’s decision in Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur v. Neetu Harsh, the Bench reiterated that a candidate’s status chosen at the threshold must remain unchanged throughout the recruitment process.
The court also referred to earlier decisions including Nirmala v. State of Rajasthan and Piyush Kavivya v. Rajasthan Public Service Commission, and held that once a candidate fails to correct the application despite being given sufficient opportunity, no equitable relief can be claimed later.
Finding no error in the Single Judge’s order, the Division Bench dismissed the special appeal, along with the stay petition and pending applications.
Bottom Line :
Recruitment process - Correction of category in online application form - Candidate who opted for a particular category and failed to avail specific opportunities provided in advertisement and subsequent press note for rectification cannot seek change of category after declaration of result - Selection process is an integrated continuum and mid-course or belated change of category is impermissible.
Statutory provision(s): Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India
Munni Devi v. State of Rajasthan, (Rajasthan)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2985307
