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Journalism of Courage
The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC) to reevaluate the Group-1 Mains exam papers and declare the merit list again within eight months. The court directed that if revaluation is not possible, then Group-1 Mains exams would be cancelled, and it would ask the TGPSC to conduct the exams again.
The court struck down the merit list declared after the exam results were declared on March 10. The exam was held last October for 563 notified Group 1 vacancies. The decision comes as a blow for candidates awaiting appointment letters.
After the results were declared on March 10, dozens of candidates filed petitions in the HC questioning the evaluation process, with some students seeking cancellation of the exams. Candidates raised questions over many top scorers allegedly being from only two exam centres. They also questioned how a majority of those who qualified were from one college, and the lack of Telugu medium invigilators in the entire process.
One of the key points raised during the court deliberations was that professors who were proficient only in English evaluated answer sheets written in Telugu. There were also allegations of a lack of transparency and improper guidelines for the evaluation of answer sheets. In the first week of April, the TGPSC put the recruitment on hold as the matter became sub judice, and the court directed it not to issue any appointment letters.
Top scorers filed counter petitions against scrapping the merit list or cancellation of the exams. The TGPSC filed a counter petition stating that the evaluation process was done fairly and impartially, and asserted that qualified professionals proficient in English and Telugu had evaluated the answer sheets.
More than 21,000 students participated in the Group 1 Mains exams, which took place from October 21 to 27. After hearing both sides, the HC had posted the final verdict for July 7 but postponed it until today.
The smooth conduct of exams and recruitment was an election promise of the Congress in the state. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had promised lakhs of students that government recruitment would be done without glitches.
Ahead of the November 30, 2023, elections in Telangana, previous failed government recruitment drives had been a huge election issue. The Congress promised a job calendar and to fill two lakh vacancies if it came to power.
