News Citation : 2026 LN (HC) 93 | 2026:CGHC:1983
January 13, 2026 : The High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur has set aside an order cancelling the appointment of a Class IV employee, holding that the authorities acted beyond the scope of earlier judicial directions by annulling an entire recruitment process instead of examining individual cases. Justice Parth Prateem Sahu allowed a writ petition filed by Binita Ekka, who had been working as a Sweeper-cum-Attendant-cum-Chowkidar at a veterinary dispensary in Raigarh district. Ekka challenged an order dated May 8, 2025, by which the Deputy Director of Veterinary Services cancelled her appointment along with others recruited under a 2012 advertisement.
The dispute traces back to a recruitment drive initiated in February 2012 for Class IV posts. Although only 32 vacancies were advertised, 44 candidates were eventually appointed. Allegations of irregularities in the selection process led to a complaint and a subsequent inquiry, following which the appointments were cancelled in September 2012. That cancellation was challenged before the High Court in an earlier round of litigation.
In April 2023, the Court had set aside the mass cancellation and made it clear that the entire select list should not be scrapped merely because of procedural lapses. Instead, the authorities were directed to issue fresh show cause notices and assess the legality of each appointment individually, cancelling only those found to be invalid after proper inquiry.
Despite this clear direction, the department again cancelled all appointments in May 2025, citing non-compliance with reservation norms and the fact that more candidates were appointed than advertised. Ekka argued that the authorities failed to examine individual cases as mandated and that she had continued in service for over a decade under court protection.
After reviewing the record, the Court found that the impugned order did not reflect any individualized assessment of the appointees. It noted that the authorities had once again relied on general irregularities in the recruitment process, an approach already rejected in the 2023 judgment. Since that earlier order had attained finality and was never challenged, the respondents were bound to act strictly in accordance with it.
Holding that the May 2025 order was passed in excess of the Court’s earlier directions, Justice Sahu quashed the cancellation. The State authorities were, however, given liberty to pass fresh orders, but only by examining each appointment on its own merits as directed earlier.
The ruling brings relief to Ekka and similarly placed employees appointed in the 2012 recruitment, reinforcing the principle that administrative authorities cannot nullify entire selections without individualized findings, especially after specific judicial directions to the contrary.
Case Reference : WPS No. 13184 of 2025, Binita Ekka vs State of Chhattisgarh and Others; counsels appearing were Mr. Mateen Siddiqui, Advocate, for the petitioner, and Mrs. Akanksha Verma Dabadhker, Panel Lawyer, for the State.
