SC rejects petition to allow ‘rank jumping’ candidates in SSC exams, upholds 2016 panel cancellation

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition that sought permission for candidates who secured jobs through 'rank jumping' in the SSC recruitment process to appear in the new recruitment exams. The court upheld the decision made by retired Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, which disqualifies these candidates from participating in the upcoming recruitment and examinations.

This decision follows the cancellation of the entire 2016 SSC panel due to corruption allegations. As a result of this cancellation, 25,735 individuals lost their jobs. The Supreme Court ordered the initiation of a fresh recruitment process. Among those affected, some candidates were identified as ‘unfit’ or tainted, and the court stated that their salaries should be recovered. These individuals are not eligible to take part in the new recruitment process.

The 'unqualified' list comprises three categories: candidates who obtained jobs by submitting white papers (affidavits), candidates hired outside the panel or after the panel’s tenure expired, and candidates who secured jobs despite lower merit or rank. The court confirmed that such candidates cannot be reinstated or allowed to participate in future recruitment.

The Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.B. Viswanathan heard the case and maintained that there was no error in Justice Khanna’s order. The court emphasized that it would not interfere with the earlier verdict. Advocate Vikram Banerjee, representing the petitioner in the corruption case, stated that the Supreme Court has upheld the order by retired Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

Additionally, applications from candidates who obtained jobs by achieving unjustifiably higher ranks have been rejected. The Supreme Court has explicitly stated that such candidates, implicated in corruption, will not be permitted to participate in the new recruitment process, thereby aiming to maintain the integrity of SSC hiring.