Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 15 October 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Union of India (through Director, Directorate of Printing, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) as appellant vs. Pradip Vijaykumar Pawar & Ors. (respondents), including respondents No.3 (Shivaji Bandu Rupwate) and No.6 (Sandeep Madhukar Dalvi).
  • Procedural History: The dispute originated from a recruitment exercise for three posts – Farash, Chowkidar and Safaiwala – advertised in Employment News dated 1‑7 December 2007. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Mumbai Bench, in O.A. No. 564/2015, cancelled the entire recruitment exercise on grounds of irregularities. The High Court of Judicature at Bombay, in WP No. 9989/2024 (order dated 22‑07‑2024), upheld the CAT order but did not interfere with the recommendation to appoint respondents No.3 and 6, who had been selected in the interview and practical test.
  • Contentions: Learned ASG for the Union argued that the recruitment process was vitiated by illegalities such as nepotism, over‑advertised vacancies, and impractical interview numbers (>100 candidates in two days). She contended that directing appointment of the two respondents contradicted the cancellation of the entire exercise. Respondents No.3 and 6 argued they had no fault, had been duly interviewed and scored, and had waited nearly two decades for appointment; they sought accommodation on any equivalent post.
  • Legal Issues: Whether a court can intervene in a recruitment process already found to be irregular and cancelled, and whether the appointment of the two respondents can be justified despite the overall exercise being set aside.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court allowed the appeal.
  • The order of the CAT dated 12‑10‑2023 (O.A. No. 564/2015) and the High Court order dated 22‑07‑2024 in WP No. 9989/2024 are set aside.
  • The decision to cancel the entire recruitment exercise for the three posts (Farash, Chowkidar, Safaiwala) is upheld.
  • No appointment shall be made to the respondents; any pending applications are disposed of.

Topics: Recruitment Cancellation, Judicial Review