Jodhpur: The Rajasthan High Court has dismissed the appeal of Village Development Officer (VDO) aspirants seeking appointments from the 2021 recruitment, holding that once the unfilled posts were merged into the 2025 recruitment process and that process was completed, “no further interference is called for.”
The dispute arose from the 2021 VDO recruitment, in which 3,896 posts were advertised and later increased to 5,396. The petitioners contended that several vacancies remained unfilled because the State failed to operate the waiting/reserve list, despite the recruitment having concluded in phases between November 2022 and May 2023. They argued that, had the waiting list been operated in accordance with the applicable circulars, they would have secured appointments on merit.
The State, however, submitted that the unfilled posts were merged into the 2025 recruitment, which has since attained finality.
The Rajasthan Staff Selection Board also informed the Court that the selection process had been completed and recommendations for appointment had already been sent to the State Government.
The Division Bench of Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Praveer Bhatnagar observed that while it understood the candidates’ disappointment, “no indefeasible right accrues to any candidate” to insist on the operation of the waiting/reserve list once the vacant posts have been carried forward and filled through a subsequent recruitment.
It also noted that the selected candidates of the 2025 recruitment were not before the Court, making interference at this stage unwarranted.
However, the Court left it open for the petitioners to seek age relaxation in future recruitment, to be considered strictly in accordance with law. Accordingly, the appeal was dismissed.