In a decisive move, the Supreme Court has directed police authorities across all states to ensure the timely completion of verification processes for candidates joining government services. This mandate requires police verification reports—covering character, nationality, and document authenticity—to be finalized within six months of the candidate’s appointment.
The bench, led by Justices JK Maheshwari and R Mahadevan, criticized the widespread delays in such verifications, describing them as indicative of a “careless and indifferent approach.” The Court emphasized that candidates’ regular appointments must only proceed after proper verification to prevent unnecessary disputes.
The ruling arose from a protracted legal battle involving a para-medical ophthalmic assistant in West Bengal. The appellant, appointed in 1985, faced termination in 2011 following a police report submitted 25 years late. The Court deemed this delay unjustifiable and labeled the termination as a violation of natural justice, highlighting that the appellant had not been granted a fair hearing.
Despite serving the state for over two decades without blemish, the appellant was denied pension benefits due to the delayed report. The Court overturned the High Court’s earlier decision, reaffirming the appellant’s right to these benefits. It ruled that the authorities’ negligence in verifying credentials could not retroactively nullify the appellant’s long-standing service record.
The judgment set a clear precedent, underscoring that arbitrary delays in verification processes are unacceptable. The Court ordered the authorities to disburse the appellant’s pension benefits within three months, marking a significant victory for government employees subjected to procedural lapses.
This ruling establishes a definitive timeline for police verifications in government appointments, aiming to enhance accountability and safeguard employee rights against bureaucratic inertia.
