THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH & ORS. versus RAJKUMAR YADAV

Citation: [2026] 3 S.C.R. 448 · Decided: 11-03-2026 · Supreme Court of India · Bench: AHSANUDDIN AMANULLAH · Disposal: Appeal(s) allowed

cites 4 · see the full citation network in Lexace

Judgment (excerpt)

[2026] 3 S.C.R. 448 : 2026 INSC 225
The State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors. 
v. 
Rajkumar Yadav
(Civil Appeal No. 3279 of 2026)
11 March 2026
[Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N.V. Anjaria,* JJ.]
Issue for Consideration
Challenge to the judgment of the Division Bench of the High Court 
setting aside the order of the Single Judge by way of which the 
Single Judge had dismissed the writ petition of respondent wherein 
he had challenged the rejection of his candidature by the screening 
committee for appointment to the post of constable (driver) in the 
police force on the ground that he had criminal antecedents.
Headnotes†
Service Law – Recruitment in Police Force – M.P. Police 
Regulations – Rejection of candidature by screening committee 
for appointment to the post of constable (driver) in the police 
force on the ground of criminal antecedents, when justified – 
Single Judge of the High Court dismissed the writ petition of 
the respondent challenging the rejection of his candidature 
by the screening committee for appointment to the post of 
constable (driver) in the police force on the ground that he had 
criminal antecedents – Single Judge held that the acquittal of 
the respondent in the criminal case was not a clean acquittal, 
but was founded on the ground of benefit of doubt – Order 
set aside by Division Bench holding that the acquittal was 
honourable and directing the competent authority to reconsider 
the case of the respondent – Interference with:
Held: Impugned judgment set aside – Respondent was charged 
in respect of the offences u/ss.363, 366, 366/120B, 366A,  
376(2)(c), IPC which were the offences in the nature of grave 
moral turpitude – Respondent was found to be involved in the 
serious offences such as kidnapping and abducting a minor girl 
and raping her, which was a conduct undoubtedly amounting to 
moral turpitude – The respondent, though acquitted in the criminal 
* Author
[2026] 3 S.C.R. 
449
The State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors. v. Rajkumar Yadav
case, was exonerated only on the ground of benefit of doubt – 
Division Bench of the High Court intruded into the functional realm 
of the screening committee and trampled upon its discretion which 
was validly exercised by the Committee to treat the respondent 
unsuitable to be employed in the police force – The domain of 
considering the fitness and suitability of a candidate for the purpose 
of taking him in service belongs to the employer – But for the 
limited considerations namely arbitrariness, unreasonableness, 
whimsicalness or mala fide approach, the scope of judicial review 
on this score is extremely limited – Moreover, the quality of 
law and order in the society and maintenance thereof depends 
upon the character of the persons serving in the police force – It 
becomes imperative that the recruitees in the disciplined force 
should be the persons beyond reproach and men with rectitude. 
[Paras 9, 9.1, 10]
Service Law – Suitability of candidate, wisdom of the 
employer – Scope of judicial review, extremely limited:
Held: The domain of considering the fitness and suitability of a 
candidate for the purpose of taking him in service belongs to the 
employer – A host of relevant consideration would legitimately find 
a place in the process of such consideration by the employer to 
decide whether it is feasible and advisable to offer employment to 
an aspirant – Where the employer or the screening committee of 
the employer has acted to discard, exclude or reject the candidature 
by applying relevant considerations and has not acted arbitrarily 
or whimsically, the courts have no role to interpose – But for the 
limited considerations namely arbitrariness, unreasonableness, 
whimsicalness or mala fide approach, the scope of judicial review 
on this score is extremely limited – Courts are not expected to 
override the wisdom of the employer in judging the suitability of a 
candidate and in considering the relevance of the antecedents of 
the candidate and would not substitute its own view. [Paras 7.3, 9]
Service Law – Antecedents of a candidate – Role in the decision-
making process by the employer – Scope of discretion: 
Held: In service law jurisprudence, mere involvement of a person 
in an offence or in a conduct amounting to moral turpitude without 
anything else may become relevant consideration to judge his 
fitness to the post and to assess credentials for allowing such a 
person into the employment – Every moral turpitude has its own 
450
[2026]

Excerpt shown. Read the full judgment & AI analysis in Lexace.