In interim relief to Telangana Public Service Commission, HC stays re-evaluation of Group-1 Mains results

According to the operative part of the impugned judgment, the final marks list and the general ranking list were set aside, and the TGPSC was directed to re-evaluate all the answer scripts by applying the moderation method in terms of Sanjay Singh and Anr. Vs. U.P.Public Service Commission, Allahabad, manually, and announce the results. It had further directed the TGPSC to take steps for filling up of said 563 posts.

If this was not feasible, the court had said that it was inclined to cancel the Group-I Mains examination. The Commission was directed to re-conduct the Group-1 Mains for those who have succeeded in the prelims examination. The Commission was also given eight months to complete the exercise.

While hearing the matter on Wednesday, the appellants, i.e., the TGPSC and the successful candidates, argued that there was no evidence of widespread malpractice such as paper leaks or mass copying. They maintained that the Commission had followed all established procedures, especially since this was the first Group 1 exam conducted since the creation of the state of Telangana. They also argued that the court’s judgment has cast a serious stigma on the functioning of a constitutional body, i.e., TGPSC. The appellants requested a stay on the lower court’s judgment to prevent the immediate re-evaluation or re-examination.

On the contrary, the counsel for the aggrieved candidates asserted that the entire examination process was flawed. They highlighted that the evaluation of answer sheets was done without any clear rules, leading to significant procedural irregularities. They also emphasised that the lower court had meticulously examined each of their contentions and found sufficient grounds to set aside the results and direct re-evaluation of the answer scripts within eight months or re-conduct the examination.

The court then scheduled the next hearing for October 15. Until then, it has issued an interim suspension of the lower court’s operative directions, essentially putting a pause on the re-evaluation or re-examination. “Any appointments in the meantime will be subject to outcome of the writ appeals,” the bench said.

Both sides have been ordered to submit detailed written submissions to the court by October 10.

“It is not a green signal for TGPSC to go ahead with appointments. The order is valid only till October 15, 2025, and the Commission can go ahead granting appointments at their own risk. Because the court has clarified that any appointments will be subject to the final outcome of the writ appeals,” senior counsel B Rachna Reddy, representing the aggrieved candidates, told The Indian Express.