Candidate Can't Make Correction In Online Application Form After Last Date Of Submission: Rajasthan HC
The Rajasthan High Court observed that a candidate cannot be permitted to make a correction or amendment in an online application form after the last date of submission.
The Court observed thus in a writ petition preferred by a woman praying to issue direction to the State authorities to consider her candidature for appointment on the Post of Compounder/Nurse Junior Grade Non-TSP in pursuant to an advertisement.
A Single Bench of Justice Ganesh Ram Meena said, “A candidate cannot be permitted to make correction/amendment in the online application form after the last date of submitting the application form or up to the period and opportunity allowed to the candidate for making correction/amendment in the application. Hence, this Court finds no merit in the instant petition.”
The Bench held that the candidature of a candidate can only be considered on the basis of the entries made by a candidate in his/her online/offline application form, including the correction/amendment made in such application form within the period allowed by the recruiting agency.
Advocate Pramod Kumar Saini represented the petitioner while AAG Bhuwnesh Sharma represented the respondents.
Factual Background -
The petitioner was not called for the document verification along with other candidates for the reason that in the online application form submitted by her, she did not make entries in regard to B.Sc. qualification. While submitting the online application form, she inadvertently or by a human error could not make entries on the portal regarding the details of B.Sc. qualification. Being a human error, it was prayed that the respondents be directed to allow the petitioner to make entries in the online application form and further be directed to consider her candidature for recruitment to the Post of Compounder/Nurse Junior Grade Non-TSP.
The respondents had issued an advertisement in October 2023 for inviting online application forms from the eligible candidates for recruitment to the Post of Compounder/Nurse Junior Grade. The petitioner submitted online application form and in the column of educational qualification, she made entries in regard to the secondary examination and senior secondary examination but she did not mention the details in regard to the qualification of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.). As per the advertisement, the criteria for selection was the marks secured by the candidates in B.Sc. examination and the bonus marks to the credit of the candidates. In the advertisement, specific instructions were also mentioned for the candidates for submitting online application form.
The High Court in the above context of the case noted, “Taking into consideration the facts of the case and the observations made by the Hon’ble Division Bench, no such correction or entry in the online application form can be allowed after the last date of submitting the application form or any extended period allowed by the respondents. Since the advertisement itself provides for specific instructions to the candidates for submitting their online application form, which clearly speak that a candidate before uploading online application form must go through the entries made in the online application and after due verification, should upload the same.”
The Court added that the petitioner admittedly did not submit details in regard to B.Sc. qualification which is the basic qualification for preparing the merit list and such failure on part of the petitioner in no manner can be said to be inadvertent or human error, as the same shows the negligence of a candidate.
“The Hon’ble Apex Court in case of Rajasthan public Service Commissioner, Ajmer & Anr. Vs. Shikun Ram Firoda & Anr. (Civil Appeal No.8146/2018) decided on 25.10.2019 has also deprecated the prayer for allowing any amendment/ correction in online application form after passing of the period during which a candidate may correct or amend the online application form”, it observed.
Accordingly, the High Court dismissed the writ petition.
Cause Title- Suman Kumari v. State of Rajasthan & Ors. (Neutral Citation: 2024:RJ-JP:15928)
Appearance:
Petitioner: Advocate Pramod Kumar Saini
Respondents: AAG Bhuwnesh Sharma, AGC Malti, Advocates Vishesh Sharma, and Y.C. Sharma.
