[Cites 2, Cited by 0]

Rajasthan High Court - Jodhpur

Munni Devi vs State Of Rajasthan (2026:Rj-Jd:14833) on 1 April, 2026

Author: Nupur Bhati

Bench: Nupur Bhati

[2026:RJ-JD:14833]                    (1 of 9)                        [CW-4599/2026]


      HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT
                            JODHPUR
             S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 4599/2026
Munni Devi D/o Shri Roopa Ram, Aged About 31 Years, R/o Kui
Jodha, Balesar, Jodhpur, District Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
                                                                     ----Petitioner
                                     Versus
1.       State Of Rajasthan, Through The Secretary, Department
         Of Administrative Reforms, Government Of Rajasthan,
         Jaipur, Rajasthan.
2.       The Secretary, Rajasthan Subordinate And Ministerial
         Service Selection Board, Jaipur, District Jaipur, Rajasthan.
                                                                  ----Respondents



 For Petitioner(s)           :     Mr. Karni Singh
 For Respondent(s)           :     Mr. Manish Patel


               HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE NUPUR BHATI

Order

01/04/2026

1. This writ petition has been filed by the petitioner with the following reliefs:-

"A. By an appropriate writ order or direction, any order denying the candidature of the petitioner for the post of Class-IV Employee in pursuance of the advertisement dated 12.12.2024 (Annex-3) for Non-TSP Area against the category of General Widow may kindly be quashed and set aside. B. By an appropriate writ order or direction, the respondents may kindly be directed to consider the actual category of the petitioner i.e. General Widow instead of OBC Widow and permit the petitioner in the further selection process for the post of Class-IV Employee in pursuance of the advertisement dated 12.12.2024 for Non-TSP Area.

C. By an appropriate writ, order or direction, the respondents may kindly be directed to afford appointment to the petitioner on the post of Class-IV Employee as per her marks in of pursuance the advertisement 12.12.2024 for Non-TSP Area against the category of General Widow with all consequential benefits.

D. By an appropriate writ, order or direction, the respondents may kindly be directed to not to deny the selection and appointment (Uploaded and noton 03/04/2026 to reject the candidature at 12:44:08 PM) of the

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petitioner on the ground of filling of wrong category i.e. OBC Widow instead of General Widow.

E. Any other appropriate writ, order ог direction which this Hon'ble Court may deem just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case may kindly be passed in favour of the petitioner."

2. Brief facts of the case are that the petitioner is a permanent

resident of the State of Rajasthan, possessing the requisite

educational qualifications of Secondary and Senior Secondary, and

belongs to the General category. She is a widow, her husband

having expired on 03.02.2018. In pursuance of an advertisement

dated 12.12.2024 issued by the respondent Board for recruitment

to the post of Class-IV Employee, the petitioner submitted her

online application form on 12.04.2025 under the Widow category;

however, on account of an inadvertent error, her category was

recorded as "OBC" instead of "General." The said discrepancy

continued in the admit card issued for the examination held on

20.09.2025, despite the petitioner having approached the

respondents for correction prior to the examination. The petitioner

appeared in the said examination and, upon declaration of the

result on 16.01.2026, secured 72.9512 wherein the cut off marks

for the "OBC Widow" was mentioned i. e. 0.0033 and cut off

marks of "general Widow" was mentioned i.e. 32.6964 marks after

normalization; however, her category was still reflected as "OBC

Widow" in the result and merit list. The petitioner thereafter

submitted a representation seeking correction of her category ,

but no decision has been taken thereon by the respondents,

leading to the filing of the present writ petition.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that at the time of

filling the application form, the petitioner's category was

inadvertently entered as "OBC" instead of "General", the petitioner (Uploaded on 03/04/2026 at 12:44:08 PM)

[2026:RJ-JD:14833] (3 of 9) [CW-4599/2026]

requested the respondents to permit her to make the necessary

correction in the application form. He further submits that the

petitioner became aware of the said inadvertent error only when

the respondents published the merit-wise list of candidates,

wherein her category was reflected as "OBC Widow." The Learned

Counsel for the petitioners also submits that the petitioner has not

caused any delay and promptly approached the respondents

seeking rectification of the inadvertent mistake.

4. Learned counsel for the respondents draws the attention of

this Court to the advertisement dated 12.12.2024 that in Clause-

17(i) and submits that it was specifically provided therein that a

candidate would be granted one opportunity to make corrections

in the application form after the cut-off date upon deposit of a fee

of Rs. 300/-. The Learned Counsel for the respondent further

submits that such opportunity was made available for a period of

seven days from the cut-off date; however, the petitioner failed to

avail the same.

5. Learned counsel for the respondent further submits that

thereafter, the respondents issued a press note dated 07.10.2025,

whereby the candidates were granted an additional opportunity to

make necessary amendments in their application forms, if

required, during the period from 06.10.2025 to 16.10.2025.

However, the petitioner again failed to avail the said opportunity.

Learned counsel for the respondent submits that once two

opportunities had been afforded to the candidates to make

necessary corrections in their application forms, the petitioner

cannot be permitted to seek such correction at a belated stage.

He further submits that the issue involved in the present case is

squarely covered by the order dated 10.03.2026 passed by the (Uploaded on 03/04/2026 at 12:44:08 PM)

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Coordinate Bench of this Court at Jaipur Bench in the case of

Nirmala vs. State of Rajasthan & Anr. (S.B. Civil Writ

Petition No. 4373/2026), wherein the writ petition was

dismissed.

6. Learned Counsel for the respondent further placed reliance

upon the judgment dated 10.04.2018 passed by this Hon'ble Court

in the case of Piyush Kaviya & Ors. versus The Rajasthan

Public Service Commission & Ors (D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ No.

198 / 2018).

7. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the

material available on record.

8. Upon perusal of the admit card on record, it is evident that

the petitioner was issued an admit card (Annexure-5), wherein her

category was clearly indicated as "OBC Widow." Therefore, the

contention of the petitioner that the incorrect mention of her

category came to her notice only upon publication of the merit list

cannot be accepted, as the admit card itself explicitly reflected her

category as "OBC Widow." Consequently, it is apparent that the

petitioner was well aware, at that stage itself, that her category

had been wrongly recorded as "OBC" instead of "General".

9. Despite having knowledge of the aforesaid inadvertent error,

the petitioner failed to avail the second opportunity granted by the

respondents for making necessary corrections, as provided

through the press note dated 07.10.2025 (as reflected in the

additional affidavit filed today, i.e., 01.04.2026). Furthermore, the

petitioner has not averred specific pleadings in the writ petition

explaining as to why, despite being afforded two opportunities to

rectify/amend the application form, she failed to avail the same.

(Uploaded on 03/04/2026 at 12:44:08 PM)

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The absence of any plausible explanation clearly indicates

negligence on her part, for reasons best known to her.

10. This Court also takes into consideration Clause 17 (i) of the

advertisement dated 12.12.2024 (Annex-3), which unambiguously

provides that in case any amendment/rectification in the

application form is required, candidates may make such

corrections upon deposit of Rs. 300/- within a period of seven

days from the cut-off date for submission of the application form.

The said clause is reproduced hereunder:

"17. ऑनलाईन आवेदन में संशोधन की प्रक्रियाः बोर्ड द्वारा ऑनलाईन आवेदन में संशोधन हेतु कोई ऑफलाईन प्रार्थना पत्र स्वीकार नही ं किया जायेगा। बोर्ड द्वारा जारी विज्ञप्ति दिनां क 14.07.2023 द्वारा यदि किसी अभ्यर्थी को अपने OTR में स्वयं के नाम, पिता के नाम जन्मतिथि एवं लिंग में परिवर्तन करना है तो उसे सं र्व प्रथम अपने आं धार / जनआधार में परिवर्तन करवाना होगा तत्पश्चात् OTR स्कीन पर फेच का बटन दबाना होगा जिससे आधार / जनआधार में दर्ज नवीन डाटा उसके OTR में स्वतः ही आ जायेगा। अभ्यर्थी को अपने OTR में आरक्षण श्रे णी, दिव्यां गजन श्रेणी एवं मूल निटास में टां छित संशोधन करने की अनुमति दी गयी है । अभ्यर्थी संशोधन करने के उपरान्त ही ऑनलाईन आवेदन भरें । यदि अभ्यर्थी भर्ती का ऑनलाईन आवेदन सबमिट कर चुका है तो ऐसी स्थिति में ऑनलाईन आवेदन में संशोधन करने को अवधि के दौरान भी उसे : स्वयं के नाम, पिता के नाम, जन्मतिथि एवं लिंग में परिवर्तन की अनुमति नही ं होगी। अभ्यर्थी को यदि आरक्षण श्रेणी / दिव्यां गजन श्रेणी / मूल निवास में संशोधन करने है तो पहले उसे OTR पेज पर आरक्षण श्रेणी/दिव्यां गजन श्रेणी / मूल निवास में संशोधन करना होगा इससे उसे स्वयं के ऑनलाईन आवेदन में पू र्व में भरें गये आरक्षण श्रे णी/ दिव्यां गजन श्रेणी / मूल निवास में संशोधन करने का विकल्प उपलब्ध हो जायेगा, जिसे उपयोग में लेकर वह वां छित संशोधन कर सकता है । ऑनलाईन आवेदन Submit किये जाने के पश्चात् यदि आवेदक को किसी प्रकार की त्रु टि का पता लगता है तो अभ्यर्थी ऑनलाईन आवेदन में फोटो, हस्ताक्षर एवं उन सूचनाओं को परिवर्तित नही ं कर पाएगा जो उसने OTR के समय दर्ज की है । शेष सूचनाओं में वह संशोधन निम्नानुसार कर सकता है :-

(i). यदि कोई अभ्यर्थी अपने ऑनलाईन आवेदन में संशोधन कराना चाहता है तो आदे दन प्राप्ति की अं तिम दिनां क के पश्चात् 07 दिवस के भीतर निर्धारित शुल्क 300/- रूपये दे कर ऑनलाईन आवेदन में संशोधन कर सकता है । ऑनलाईन आवेदन में अभ्यर्थी फोटो, हस्ताक्षर एवं उन सूचनाओं को परिवर्तित नही ं कर पाएगा जो उसने OTR के समय दर्ज की है यथा नाम, पिता का नाम, जन्मतिथि, लिंग इत्यादि । शेष प्रविशिष्टियों में संशोधन किया जा सकेगा। शैक्षणिक योग्यता मे अभ्यर्थी अंतिम तिथि के पश्चात 07 दिवस में ही संशोधन (Uploaded on 03/04/2026 at 12:44:08 PM) कर सकते है । इसके पश्चात् (Downloaded शैक्षणिक on 03/04/2026 योग्यताPM) at 09:50:15 के कॉलम में बोर्ड / [2026:RJ-JD:14833] (6 of 9) [CW-4599/2026]

विश्वविद्यालय का नाम, रोल नं .. उत्तीर्ण वर्ष इत्यादि में कोई संशोधन नही ं कर सकेगा। बोर्ड द्वारा जारी कार्यालय आदे श दिनां क 27.07.

2023 के अनुसार ऑनलाईन आवेदन के लिये One Time Registration (OTR) में शैक्षणिक योग्यता में केवल मात्र एकबारीय संशोधन की अनुमति दी गयी है । सर्वप्रथम अभ्यर्थी अपने OTR में शैक्षणिक योग्यता में वां छित संशोधन कर लेवें। अभ्यर्थी संशोधन करने के उपरान्त ही ऑनलाईन आवेदन भरें । यदि अभ्यर्थी भर्ती का ऑनलाइन आवेदन सबमिट कर चुका है तो ऐसी स्थिति में अभ्यर्थी को शैक्षणिक योग्यता में संशोधन करने हेतु पहले , CTR पेज पर स्वयं की शैक्षणिक योग्यता में संशोधन करना होगा इससे उस शैक्षणिक योग्यता में संशोधन करते का टिकल स्वयं के ऑनलाईन आवेदन में ऑनलाईन आवेदन को संशोधित करने की अवधि के दौरान उपलब्ध रहे गा, जिसे उपयोग में लेकर यह शैक्षणिक योग्यता में वां छित संशोधन कर सकता है । ऑनलाईन आवेदन में संशोधन हे तु निर्धारित फीस जमा कराने की प्रक्रिया ऑनलाईन आवेदन करने की प्रकिया के समान ही होगी।

ii. यदि किसी अभ्यर्थी के ऑनलाईन आवेदन में त्रु टि रह जाती है तथा यह किसी कारणवश आवेदन करने की अं तिम दिनां क के पश्चात् 7 दिवस के भीतर अपने ऑनलाईन आवेदन में संशोधन नही ं कर पाता है तो उसे अपने ऑनलाईन आवेदन में संशोधन करने का एक ओर अंतिम अवसर परीक्षा आयोजन के पश्चात् ऑनलाईन त्रु टि संशोधन हे तु एक निश्चित समय दिया जायेगा जिसमें अभ्यर्थी अपने ऑनलाईन आवेदन की त्रुटि को ऑनलाईन संशोधन कर सकेगा। ऑनलाईन आवेदन में संशोधन हे तु दिनां क एवं समय की सूचना पृ थक से बोर्ड की वेबसाईट के माध्यम से दी जायेगी। उक्त निर्धारित समय में अभ्यर्थी अपने ऑनलाईन आवेदन में निर्धारित संशोधन शुल्क 300/- रूपये ऑनलाईन आवेदन करने की प्रकिया के समान भुगतान कर संशोधन कर सकेगा।

iii. इसके पश्चात् ऑनलाईन आवेदन में किसी प्रकार का संशोधन / परिवर्तन स्वीकार नही ं किया जायेग तथा ऐसी किसी भी त्रु टि का सम्पू र्ण दायित्व अभ्यर्थी का होगा।"

11. It is not in dispute that the respondents had provided

multiple opportunities to the candidates to rectify errors in their

online application forms. Initially, a correction window was made

available under Clause 17(i) of the advertisement. Thereafter, in

terms of Clause 17(ii), a further and final opportunity was

envisaged even after the conduct of the examination, subject to

notification of a specific time period by the Board. In addition, the

respondents also issued a press note dated 07.10.2025,

permitting candidates to carry out necessary corrections during

the period from 06.10.2025 to 16.10.2025, thereby ensuring that

no candidate suffers on account of bona fide mistakes. However, (Uploaded on 03/04/2026 at 12:44:08 PM)

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despite being aware of the incorrect reflection of her category, the

petitioner failed to avail any of the opportunities so provided. Such

inaction cannot be overlooked, particularly when the scheme of

the recruitment process places a clear obligation upon the

candidate to remain vigilant and to correct any errors within the

stipulated time.

12. This Court has considered the view taken by the order dated

10.03.2026 passed by the Coordinate Bench of this Court at Jaipur

Bench by the order dated 10.03.2026 in the case of Nirmala vs.

State of Rajasthan & Anr. (S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.

4373/2026),wherein it has been categorically held that a

candidate cannot be permitted to alter his/her category after the

closure of the stipulated correction window in the online

application process with the emphasis that in the present era of

large-scale recruitment, involving thousands of applicants, the

selection process is predominantly technology-driven, and any

deviation or post facto correction would lead to serious

administrative inconvenience and delay. The relevant paragraph of

the order is reproduced hereunder:-

"5. It is settled proposition of law as held by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court at Principal Seat, Jodhpur in D.B. Civil Writ Petition No.15900/2021 (Mustak Khan vs. The Rajasthan High Court Jodhpur & Ors.), the relevant portion of the aforesaid order is reproduced as hereunder:-

"5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents while relying on the judgment of this Court in Sunil Bhanwariya v. Registrar, Examination Cell, RHC, Jodhpur & Anr. submits that the petitioner having participated in the preliminary examination in the General category cannot raise this issue at belated stage after declaration of the result for the post of District Judge. 8. In the considered opinion of this Court, having participated in the examination and knowing that he has applied in the General category, he cannot be allowed to change his category from General to OBC (NCL) category. No prima facie case is made out by the petitioner. He did not file any proof to the effect (Uploaded on 03/04/2026 at 12:44:08 PM)

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that he made any endeavour to change his category in the application form from General to OBC (NCL)."

13. This Court has considered the view of the Hon'ble Division

Bench in Piyush Kaviya and others versus Rajasthan Public

Service Commission and others (D.B. Spl. Appl. Writ No.

198/2018), wherein it has been held that in large-scale public

recruitment, the process is necessarily technology-driven and

structured around strict timelines, with specific opportunities

provided to candidates to rectify errors through a correction

window. The relevant paragraph of the aforesaid judgment is

reproduced hereunder:-

"29. It needs to be highlighted that seeking public employment the number of applicants swell into thousands for every appointment offered. The cumbersome process of processing the applications manually and at each stage of the selection process manual intervention being time consuming, aid of technology is being taken. On-line applications are being received. Opportunities to correct mistakes in the on-line application forms are provided by opening a window period. When the window period closes, the forms, applications etc. as amended are processed. The computer generates the admit cards. The results of the examination are fed in the computer for various categories of posts and in the instant case, the number being 30, select list based on merits and categories are generated by the computer.The candidates need to be vigilant and specially when, as in the instant advertisement, they were cautioned time and again to check their particulars and a window period within which corrections could be made was made available to the candidates.

30. Whilst it may be true that every endeavour should be made to induct meritorious candidates but at the same time administrative inconvenience caused by permitting applicants to correct errors committed by them has to be kept in mind. It serves public interest that appointments to civil posts are made as early as possible."

14. In view of the aforesaid facts and the settled legal position,

this Court is of the considered opinion that the petitioner, despite

having clear knowledge of the incorrect reflection of her category

at the stage of issuance of the admit card, failed to avail the first

opportunity that was(Uploaded provided before the issuance of admit card on 03/04/2026 at 12:44:08 PM)

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that is seven days from the date of the cut off date i. e.

19.04.2025 of the application form and second opportunity was

given after the date of issuance of admit card by way of press

note dated 07.10.2025 during the period form 06.10..2025 to

16.10.2025, both the opportunities expressly provided by the

respondents for correction of the application form. The