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Union of India v. Methu Meda

Civil Appeal · 2021 INSC 623Decided 6 Oct 2021
Civil Appeal No. 6238 of 2021
Justice Indira Banerjee · Justice J.K. Maheshwari

Background

Methu Meda was tried for kidnapping for ransom but was acquitted by the Sessions Court after the complainant turned hostile. He later got selected for the post of Constable in the CISF and truthfully disclosed the criminal case and his acquittal in his attestation form. A Screening Committee nevertheless found him ineligible for appointment, a decision the Madhya Pradesh High Court set aside, directing CISF to send him for training with full consequential benefits.

Decision Breakdown

The Supreme Court held that an acquittal given on benefit of doubt (because witnesses turned hostile) is not the same as an "honourable acquittal," and that a Screening Committee is entitled to independently assess a candidate's suitability for a disciplined force even after such an acquittal. Truthful disclosure of the case in the attestation form does not by itself entitle a candidate to appointment. Relying on precedents including Avtar Singh v. Union of India and Commissioner of Police v. Mehar Singh, the Court found the Screening Committee's rejection was not mala fide and therefore should not have been interfered with by the High Court. The appeal was allowed and the High Court's orders were set aside.

Lesson Learnt

Being acquitted in a criminal trial, especially on benefit of doubt rather than a clean, honourable acquittal, does not automatically entitle a person to a government job, particularly in police or paramilitary forces, where the employer retains the right to assess character and suitability independently.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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