In a hearing marked by sharp exchanges and a touch of visible frustration, the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur on 19 November 2025 delivered relief to 63 young constables from tribal districts who had been waiting nearly a decade to serve in their own TSP (Tribal Sub-Plan) regions. Justice Farjand Ali, after going through bulky records and long lists of petitioners, directed the State to shift all of them to TSP-notified areas, including the Maharana Pratap Battalion at Pratapgarh.
Background
The story began with a 2013 advertisement for 1,000 Constable posts in the Mineral Protection Force-a name that, as the judge hinted during the hearing, created a natural belief that postings would be in mineral-rich tribal belts like Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur, and Salumbar. Out of these posts, 80 were reserved for TSP candidates. The petitioners, all belonging to notified tribal communities, cleared the exam and were appointed in January 2016.
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But things went sideways soon. Instead of being posted in TSP units, all recruits were absorbed into the 14th Battalion of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) in Jaipur after a 2015 merger order. None of them ever saw the tribal regions they believed they would protect.
They tried again in 2018, when the State invited TSP-resident employees to opt for transfer after the Centre re-defined Scheduled Areas. The petitioners submitted forms on time, supported by their Commandant, yet nothing moved. “We served honestly for years, but our applications were buried somewhere,” their counsel argued.
Court’s Observations
Justice Ali took a firm view on the State’s shifting positions. Referring to the 2013 recruitment design, the Court remarked that the expectation of being posted in tribal areas was reasonable. “A legitimate expectation can, without doubt, arise when an advertisement is structured in a manner that clearly conveys linkage with tribal/mineral areas,” the judge observed.
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The bench also noted something striking: despite the recruitment being titled Mineral Protection Force and reservation being provided for TSP candidates, not a single recruit - not even one - had been posted in the Mineral Protection Force. Instead, these tribal youths were sent to Jaipur for office-security duties.
During the hearing, the judge even commented that “the State cannot extend an attractive promise at the stage of recruitment and later altogether depart from it without any rational justification.” This line, spoken in a measured but firm tone, seemed to capture the mood of the courtroom.
The respondents argued administrative constraints, vacancy issues, and lack of any absolute right to transfer. But the Court was unimpressed, especially after noticing that similarly placed employees had received transfers earlier.
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Decision
With the petitioners “left remediless for years,” the Court stepped in to “balance equities.” It directed the State to:
- Shift all 63 petitioners to the Maharana Pratap Battalion, Pratapgarh, and
- If required, adjust them in any TSP-notified district based on administrative needs.
The order ends the matter, but not before underlining that tribal candidates cannot be sidelined after being recruited under promises linked with their home regions.
Case Title: Nakul Patidar & Others vs. State of Rajasthan & Others
Case No.: S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 10154/2019
Case Type: Civil Writ Petition (Transfer to TSP Area)
Decision Date: 19 November 2025
