Chhattisgarh HC Suspends Constable Recruitment; 6,000 Vacancies on Hold, 2,500 Candidates Already Issued Joining Letters

The Chhattisgarh High Court has put a temporary halt on the ongoing recruitment process for police constables, citing alleged irregularities. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 23, 2026.

The court’s order suspends appointments for 6,000 vacancies until further notice, preventing the state police from issuing any new joining letters. The state government has been granted two weeks to submit its response.

The recruitment process, which includes written and physical efficiency tests, was being conducted across all districts to fill vacant constable posts. Petitions challenging the process claimed large-scale manipulation during the physical tests.

Allegations of Irregularities
Advocate Mateen Siddiqui, representing the petitioners, informed the court that serious irregularities were observed during the physical efficiency test. The strongest evidence cited was a letter sent by the SSP of Bilaspur, also the chairman of the selection committee, to the Police Headquarters in Raipur on December 19, 2024, officially reporting discrepancies during the physical tests.

Petitioners also argued that since the recruitment is conducted under a single centralized advertisement and the same outsourced agency manages physical tests across all districts, there is a possibility that similar irregularities occurred at other centers as well.

Appointments Already Issued
During the proceedings, it was revealed that out of 6,000 vacancies, approximately 2,500 candidates had already received joining letters. The petitioners contended that continuing appointments could compromise the investigation and make impartial action difficult in the future.

Court’s Verdict
The government’s counsel opposed the allegations, arguing that the complaint was limited to a single center and should not be generalized to the entire recruitment process. After hearing all arguments, the High Court recognized the seriousness of the reported irregularities and ordered a suspension on all new appointments until the next hearing or a final decision.

All eyes are now on the February 23 hearing for further developments in the case.