Panaji: Bombay high court dismissed the petition of seven candidates challenging the 800m running test conducted for the post of police sub-inspector (PSI), after it found that the state followed the required norms.The candidates went to court after failing the 800m running test, which was required to be completed in 2.5 minutes or less. They stated that there were 200-220 candidates and 40-60 were made to run at one time. They stated that the width of the track was only 4.5m and the test was conducted on a 200m track; therefore, it required four rounds to be completed. They stated that the track was overcrowded, making overtaking manoeuvres difficult — which resulted in time loss — and that those running first had a clear advantage over persons running behind. They submitted that the condition of the ground was not up to the mark, and earlier selections and tests were conducted at the SAG ground at Campal, which is a recognised athletic field with proper running tracks and conditions suitable for runners.The division bench of Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit S Jamsandekar viewed the video recording of the physical test and observed that the allegations about the condition of the ground and that the petitioners failed to meet the required criteria of the test because they were made to run behind each other, were not true.The court observed that the same ground, set-up and treatment were given to all candidates, and that the petitioners appeared for the test on different dates and in different groups.A total of 936 candidates qualified for the 800m run, of which 487 were unsuccessful. “Permitting the petitioners or any other candidate thereafter to take a re-test by directing the state to hold a fresh physical test would itself be an unfair procedure, as it would not only allow a few candidates who approach the court to have a second attempt, but also create an unfair advantage in as much as the condition would be entirely different and perhaps favourable to the petitioners,” the court stated.The posts were advertised on May 2, 2025, by the Goa Staff Selection Committee. The selection process comprises three stages: written exam, physical exam, and, after clearing the physical exam, the shortlisted candidates are called for another written exam. The petitioners cleared the first stage and successfully completed four of the five parts in the physical examination stage. They failed the running test.They went to court seeking quashing of the selection process of the 800m running test and directions to conduct a fresh physical efficiency test on a recognised athletic field, with batches of runners being tested in low volumes to ensure proper race time evaluation.Advocate general Devidas Pangam said the physical test was conducted strictly in accordance with the prescribed norms and standardised procedure uniformly followed across India for recruitment to the post of PSI.He said a specialised agency from Hyderabad was engaged to ensure that the physical test was conducted scientifically and impartially. He said it conducted similar tests all over India for various organisations, including BSF.To ensure accuracy in time measurement, RFID tags were affixed to both ankles of all participants of the 800m run, Pangam told the court. He added that sensors were installed at both the starting point and the finishing point of the track to precisely record the commencement and completion of the run and to accurately compute the time taken by each candidate.
