Manoj Kumar Bhagat v. State of Chhattisgarh
Case brief
What is this about?
Batch of 20 WPS petitions, Chhattisgarh High Court, decided 19/03/2026 by Rakesh Mohan Pandey, J. Keywords: reservation roster; select list as reservoir for future vacancies; appointments against subsequently sanctioned posts; cancellation of appointment; fresh advertisement requirement; Articles 14 and 16; equality in public employment; Peon and Assistant Grade-III recruitment 2012-13; Collector Balrampur-Ramanujganj; Commissioner Surguja Division appeal; Tribal Welfare Department; earlier round WPS No. 4091/2015 remand. Precedents: Vikas Pratap Singh (2013) 14 SCC 494 - distinguished; Anmol Kumar Tiwari (2021) 5 SCC 424 - distinguished; Anurag Kumar Singh (Civil Appeal No. 8334 of 2013) - followed; Rakhi Ray (2010) 2 SCC 637 - followed. Disposition: petitions dismissed, impugned cancellation upheld, no costs.
What did the court decide?
Once notified vacancies are filled, the select list cannot be used as a reservoir for future vacancies; any subsequent vacancies must be filled through a fresh recruitment process in accordance with statutory rules and constitutional requirements.