Jaipur, Aug 28: The Rajasthan High Court has annulled the contentious Sub Inspector (SI) Recruitment-2021, which was conducted for 859 positions, due to significant irregularities and a widespread paper leak.

In a ruling delivered by Justice Sameer Jain, the court highlighted that the leaked examination paper had circulated extensively throughout the state, even reaching organized groups using Bluetooth technology. The involvement of six members from the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) in this scandal rendered the recruitment process untenable.

The court examined the paper leak from three perspectives: two RPSC members were directly implicated in the leak, numerous dummy candidates participated in the exam, and criminal groups led by Jagdish Bishnoi and others disseminated the paper across Rajasthan.

The bench remarked on the difficulty of distinguishing between honest and dishonest candidates in this recruitment process. While many candidates took the exam with integrity, the court expressed concern that even a single dishonest individual in a position of authority could jeopardize public safety.

The court ordered that all positions from the 2021 SI Recruitment be incorporated into the upcoming 2025 recruitment cycle, allowing all candidates from the annulled recruitment to reapply. The petitioner's attorney, Harendra Neel, confirmed that 897 positions will be included in the forthcoming recruitment.

Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena, who has been vocal about the issue, praised the court's decision as a triumph for justice.

He claimed that over half of the selected candidates were fraudulent, stating, “The government has only identified 58 fake sub-inspectors, but evidence suggests that more than 500 candidates passed the exam through deceit. If such individuals had joined the police force, it would have led to a breakdown of law and order.”

The scandal has also implicated high-ranking officials.

Former RPSC member Ramu Ram Raika, along with his son Devesh Raika and daughter Shobha Raika, has been arrested in connection with the case. While Devesh and Shobha have been released on bail, Ramu Ram Raika remains incarcerated. He served as an RPSC member from July 2018 during the Vasundhara Raje administration until July 2022.

This ruling by the High Court represents a significant effort to combat recruitment fraud in Rajasthan, aiming to restore public confidence in the state's examination processes.