- (1.) This batch of special appeals arises from a judgment of the learned Single Judge dated 29 May 2015. The learned Single Judge, while allowing a batch of petitions, has set aside the final result declared on 16 March 2015 of the main examination held for selection to the post of Sub- Inspector in the Civil Police and Platoon Commander in the Provincial Armed Constabulary, by directing the exclusion of candidates who had used whiteners or blades on their OMR sheets. Finding that the instructions to candidates contained a specific prohibition on the use of whiteners or blades on OMR sheets, the learned Single Judge has held that candidates who violated the instructions would have to be excluded from the final result.
(2.) Following the judgment of the learned Single Judge, it is common ground that the result has been declared in accordance with the judgment of the learned Single Judge by the State on 25 June 2015. The candidates whose candidature has been excluded in consequence of the judgment of the learned Single Judge are in the batch of special appeals which have by consent been heard finally since common questions are involved. Insofar as the State is concerned, the learned Advocate General has stated that no appeal has been filed against the judgment of the learned Single Judge having due regard to the existence of a large number of vacancies in the police force which are in urgent need to be filled up.
(3.) On 19 May 2011, the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (Board) invited applications for selection to the post of Sub-Inspector in the Civil Police and Platoon Commander in the PAC. 3698 posts were of Sub-Inspector, while 312 were of Platoon Commander. The procedure for recruitment is specified in the Uttar Pradesh Sub-Inspector and Inspector (Civil Police) Service Rules, 2008 (Rule 2008). Rule 15 provides for the procedure for direct recruitment to the post of Sub-Inspector. The procedure for recruitment consists of a physical efficiency test followed by a preliminary written test. Thereafter a physical efficiency test is conducted following which a main written examination is held. The dispute in the present case relates to the main written examination which was held on 14 September 2014. The examination consisted of 400 marks out of which an objective type examination on OMR sheets was conducted on the basis of 150 questions, each carrying two marks. The results of the main examination were declared on 20 October 2014. 3801 candidates were declared to be successful.;