RACHNA & ORS. versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR.

RACHNA & ORS. versus UNION OF INDIA & ANR.

The writ petition was dismissed because Rules 2020 prescribe fixed attempt and age limits with no discretion to grant additional attempts or age relaxation to general category candidates beyond what the Rules permit; the Commissions policy decisions are within executive domain and not amenable to mandamus unless arbitrary or unfounded, and the circumstances (rescheduling of the exam, additional months and withdrawal window) did not justify judicially imposing a policy to grant additional attempts to petitioners.

Parties
Petitioners: RACHNA & ORS.; Respondents: UNION OF INDIA & ANR.
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
24 February 2021
Procedural Posture
Writ Petition (civil) Under Article 32 / Final Judgment Petition Dismissed
Outcome
Writ petition dismissed
Legal Topics
Policy Decisions, Mandamus, Age Limits, Attempt Limits, Competitive Examinations, COVID 19 Pandemic
Constitutional Law Administrative Law Public Law Service Law Judicial Review Policy Decisions Mandamus Age Limits +3 more

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Parties

RACHNA & ORS.

Petitioners

UNION OF INDIA & ANR.

Respondents

Procedural Posture

Writ Petition (civil) Under Article 32 / Final Judgment Petition Dismissed

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether petitioners who failed CSE (Preliminary) 2020 and who are last-attempt/age-barred are entitled to a one-time additional attempt or age relaxation due to COVID-19
  2. 2 Whether the Court can issue a mandamus directing the executive to frame or grant a policy of additional attempts/age relaxation
  3. 3 Whether the executives policy decision in this context is open to judicial review and on what grounds

Ratio Decidendi

The writ petition was dismissed because Rules 2020 prescribe fixed attempt and age limits with no discretion to grant additional attempts or age relaxation to general category candidates beyond what the Rules permit; the Commissions policy decisions are within executive domain and not amenable to mandamus unless arbitrary or unfounded, and the circumstances (rescheduling of the exam, additional months and withdrawal window) did not justify judicially imposing a policy to grant additional attempts to petitioners.

Court Disposition

Writ petition dismissed

Orders

  • Application(s) for intervention allowed
  • Writ petition dismissed