Jaipur, Rajasthan : In a significant development, the Rajasthan High Court has delivered a major decision regarding the recruitment of Home Guard personnel, bringing relief to experienced candidates.
The court made it clear that experienced Home Guards and fresh applicants cannot be assessed through the same screening process due to differences in their qualifications and field experience.
Hearing on Multiple Petitions
The order was passed by Justice Munnoori Lakshman while hearing petitions filed by Jhalakan Singh Rathore and 263 others. The petitioners had approached the court after earlier directions related to their reinstatement were not properly implemented.
Priority for Experienced Candidates
The court directed that if vacancies are available, preference must be given to experienced Home Guard personnel during the recruitment process. It also noted that similar directions had already been issued in 2020 for re-engaging these candidates, but the lack of compliance forced them to seek legal intervention once again.
Delay in Result Declaration Questioned
During the proceedings, it was revealed that although screening of 81 experienced candidates had been conducted, the results were never declared. The petitioners argued that it is unfair to treat experienced personnel on par with new applicants, reinforcing their demand for a separate evaluation process.
Government’s Stand and Final Directions
On the other hand, the state government maintained that the screening process was conducted in accordance with court orders and that appointments would depend on eligibility and availability of vacancies.
After considering all aspects, the High Court disposed of the petitions with clear directions favoring experienced Home Guard personnel, ensuring a more just approach in future recruitment.