Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has granted a one-time relaxation in the upper age limit for candidates applying for the Odisha Police constable/sepoy recruitment examinations.
This decision follows multiple petitions from aspirants who exceeded the age limit due to recruitment delays.
The Odisha Police State Selection Board had advertised 1,360 vacancies for sepoys/constables earlier this year, with an upper age limit of 23 years.
A bench led by Justice S.K. Panigrahi has now permitted a six-year relaxation, raising the age cap for all categories. The court directed the State Selection Board to amend its recruitment notice to reflect this change.
The High Court noted that the last constable/sepoy recruitment in Odisha occurred in 2018. Disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic had delayed the recruitment process, unfairly disadvantaging eligible aspirants.
Justice Panigrahi emphasized that candidates should not be penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
While granting this relief, the court clarified that this relaxation is a one-time measure and will not serve as a precedent for future recruitment. It also urged the Odisha Police to establish a regular recruitment cycle to prevent similar issues.
