EWS Certificate Irregularities Cannot Be Challenged After Participation and Correction: Delhi High Court Directs Marks Disclosure but Refuses to Quash SSB Recruitment Process

1. Case Snapshot

Case Name: Saket Kumar Sonu And Ors vs Sashastra Seema Bal And Anr

Citation: W.P.(C) 3500/2024

High Court: High Court of Delhi

Bench: Hon'ble Mr. Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Hon'ble Ms. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora

Date of Judgment: 19th June, 2026

Area of Law: Service Law, Constitutional Law, Recruitment, EWS Reservation, Right to Information, Administrative Law

2. Judgment in Brief

The Delhi High Court disposed of a writ petition filed by three EWS category candidates who unsuccessfully participated in the SSB Constable recruitment process of 2020. The petitioners sought disclosure of marks and ranks, and an inquiry into alleged irregularities in accepting invalid EWS certificates of selected candidates. The Court directed the respondents to disclose the marks and ranks obtained by the petitioners and the selected candidates within four weeks. However, the Court refused to order an inquiry into the alleged irregularities, noting that the petitioners themselves were given an opportunity to submit fresh EWS certificates (which were accepted) and were found unsuccessful solely because they secured marks below the cut-off. The Court held that the challenge to the recruitment process after participation and acceptance of benefits is barred by acquiescence and waiver. The Court distinguished the judgments relied upon by the petitioners, noting that their case was rejected on merit (low marks) and not on EWS certificate validity.

3. Relevant Facts

The Recruitment Process

• Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) issued an advertisement on 28.07.2020 for recruitment to the post of Constable (Cook, Driver, Water Carrier) in Group C category.

• The selection process had multiple stages: Physical Standard Test/Physical Efficiency Test, Written Examination/Common Entrance Test, Documentation/Trade/Skill Test, and Medical Examination.

• The advertisement required candidates to possess all requisite certificates within 30 days of publication.

• For EWS category candidates, the advertisement mandated submission of income certificates valid for the financial year prior to the year of application (2019-20, valid for 2020-21).

Petitioners' Participation

• The three petitioners applied under the EWS category for different posts.

• All three petitioners qualified all stages of the examination and were included in the list for document verification and medical examination.

• At the documentation stage, they submitted their EWS certificates (financial year 2019-20 and 2022-23).

Issues with EWS Certificates

• On 06.12.2023, petitioner nos. 1 and 3 received letters from SSB informing them that their EWS certificates did not meet the criteria, and they were directed to submit fresh certificates within 30 days.

• The petitioners submitted fresh certificates on 08.12.2023 and 15.1

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