Madras High Court finds grave irregularities in selection of Sub-Inspectors of Police in Tamil Nadu

Madras High Court sets aside TNUSRB's selection list for 615 Sub Inspectors due to reservation irregularities. New list ordered.

After coming across grave irregularities in the appointment of 615 Sub Inspectors of Police in the State, the Madras High Court has set aside the selection list prepared by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) on October 8, 2024 and ordered redrawing of the list under the supervision of former Chief Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar.

Justice C. V. Karthikeyan held that the selection list prepared by the TNUSRB had defeated the very purpose of communal reservation by restricting even meritorious candidates under their communal categories, without considering them under the open category so that other candidates belonging to those communities could gain advantage of the reservation.

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The judge pointed out that six candidates considered under the Scheduled Caste category had secured 83, 83, 82.50, 81.50, 81.25 and 81.25 marks, respectively, which were higher than the marks obtained by the last six candidates under the open category. If these six candidates had been considered under the open category, six more Scheduled Caste candidates could have been accommodated on the list, he said.

Holding that the TNUSRB had “violated the spirit behind the principles of reservation,” the judge said, similar discrepancies could be seen with respect to consideration of meritorious candidates under the Backward Class (Muslim) category and also within the 30% reservation provided to women instead of considering the meritorious women candidates under the open category.

“It would be poor argument if the respondents (TNUSRB) were to contend that 30% reservation for women would conversely mean that the entire remainder of 70% is exclusively reserved for male candidates. Meritorious women candidates should also be fitted in the General Turn and the General Turn cannot be restrained only to male candidates,” Justice Karthikeyan said.

He pointed out that such a discrepancy in the drawing of the selection list was against the Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling in State of Tamil Nadu versus K. Shobana. The judge also pointed out that of the 615 vacancies, 20% (123 vacancies) was intended to be filled up with in-service candidates who were already serving in the police department as Grade-I or Grade-II constables.