Dismisses petitions by candidates who failed test
Panaji: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday dismissed petitions filed by candidates who failed the race test for the post of Police Sub-Inspector, observing that permitting a re-test would amount to an unfair procedure and violate Article 14 of the Constitution.
The division bench of Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit S Jamsandekar said that directing the state to hold a fresh physical test for the petitioners or any other candidates would allow only those approaching the court to get a second attempt and would create an unfair advantage, as the conditions would be different and possibly more favourable to the petitioners. The Bench observed that this would result in two yardsticks, which would itself be violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
On May 2, 2025, the Goa Staff Selection Committee had issued an advertisement for various posts, including that of Police Sub-Inspector. The selection process consists of three stages: a written examination, a physical examination, and a further written examination for candidates who clear the physical test. The petitioners had cleared the first written examination.
The physical examination comprised five parts, of which the petitioners successfully completed four. One of the mandatory requirements for male candidates is to complete an 800-metre race in 2 minutes and 50 seconds or less. The present petitions related only to this race, which the petitioners had attempted but failed to qualify.
The court noted that 449 candidates had qualified in the test and were not parties to the petitions, though any relief granted would directly affect them. It held that these candidates were necessary and proper parties and, since they were not impleaded, the petitions were liable to fail on this ground as well. The Bench also noted that out of 936 candidates, who participated in the physical test, 487 were unsuccessful and 449 were successful.
