Historic Supreme Court Verdict: UP Resident Appointed to Postal Job After 28 Years

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has issued a significant order, ensuring justice for Ankur Gupta and several other candidates who had been eagerly awaiting their appointment into the Postal Department for 28 years. This blog post delves into the inspiring journey of their fight for employment, the legal battles they overcame, and the final verdict that has paved the way for their long-awaited appointment.

The Initial Application: A 28-Year Wait Begins
In 1995, Ankur Gupta applied for the position of Postal Assistant in the Postal Department. He successfully made it to the pre-induction training stage, signifying that he was on the cusp of realizing his dream job. However, a baffling turn of events led to his name being removed from the merit list of recruits. The reason? The Postal Department declared Gupta ineligible due to his Class 12th education being from the vocational stream. This decision left Ankur and others in a state of despair.

Challenging the Verdict: The Long Legal Battle Begins
Ankur Gupta and several other affected candidates decided to challenge the Postal Department's decision. In 1999, they filed a petition in the Central Administrative Tribunal. The tribunal's verdict favored Ankur Gupta and the other candidates, declaring the appointments valid. But the battle was far from over.

The Postal Department refused to accept this decision, taking the case to the Allahabad High Court in 2000. It wasn't until 2017 that the High Court finally dismissed the petition, upholding the Central Administrative Tribunal's original ruling. In response, the Postal Department filed a fresh review petition in the High Court, which met the same fate in 2021. Unsatisfied with the outcome, the Department chose to challenge the High Court's verdict in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court's Final Ruling: Justice for the Candidates
In a decisive and landmark ruling, the Supreme Court rejected the Postal Department's petition and upheld the verdict in favor of Ankur Gupta and the other candidates.

A bench of justices Bela M. Trivedi and Dipankar Datta delivered a profound statement, clarifying the candidate's right to appointment. They emphasized that a candidate does not possess an absolute right to appointment. However, once a candidate's name appears in the merit list, they do have a limited right to fair and non-discriminatory treatment. The bench stated, "However, if the candidature is not rejected at the threshold and the candidate is allowed to participate in the selection process and ultimately his name figures in the merit list though such candidate has no indefeasible right to claim appointment, he does have a limited right of being accorded fair and non-discriminatory treatment."

The Road to Redemption: What the Supreme Court Ordered
In its judgment, the Supreme Court mandated that Ankur Gupta and the affected candidates be appointed as Postal Assistants within one month and be offered probation. Furthermore, the court underscored that if no vacancies are currently available, a new posting should be created to accommodate these deserving candidates.

Conclusion: A Victory for Justice and Persistence
The Supreme Court's ruling in favor of Ankur Gupta and the other candidates marks a resounding victory for justice, persistence, and the belief in fair employment opportunities. This decision sets a powerful precedent, ensuring that candidates who make it to the merit list are treated fairly and non-discriminatively. It showcases the importance of upholding merit and individual rights in the recruitment process.

This remarkable journey reminds us that, in the face of adversity, the pursuit of justice can lead to significant societal change. Ankur Gupta and his fellow candidates have emerged as symbols of resilience and determination, and their story will serve as an inspiration to many.