Person with registered case not eligible for police selection: HC

Chennai, Feb 28 (UNI) The full bench of Madras High Court today held that a person acquitted on benefit of doubt or discharged in a criminal case, would not be eligible for selection in the police service.

The full bench comprising, Chief Justie A P Shah, Mr Justice F M Ibrahim Kalifulla and Mr Justice V Ramasubramanian gave the ruling, while dismissing a batch of Writ petitions, challenging their non selection to police service on the ground that they were acquitted or discharged in a criminal case.

The bench upheld the Government Order, refusing to issue appointment orders to more than 60 candidates who appeared for grade II constable posts after they successfuly cleared physical fitness test, written test, interview and medical test in the entire process of selection.

By virtue of Tamil Nadu Special Police subordinate service rules, a person acquitted on benefit of doubt or disqualified for selection to the police service of the State and the same could not be termed as illegal or unjustified, the bench said.

The bench held that ''the failure of a person to disclose in the application form, either his involvement in a criminal case or the pendency of a criminal case against him, would entitle the appointing authority to reject his application on the ground of concealment of a material fact, irrespective of the ultimate outcome of the criminal case.'' UNI XR/WS GKT LS VC2232