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This is an archive article published on May 19, 2023
Orissa HC scraps OPSC merit list for ASO recruitment, orders fresh list
The recruitment examination was conducted on August 27, 2022 and the results were announced three months later, on November 7
The OPSC had then shortlisted 1,104 candidates on the basis of their aggregate marks for document verification and computer skill test. (Photo/Wikimedia Commons)
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Orissa HC scraps OPSC merit list for ASO recruitment, orders fresh list
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The Orissa High Court on Friday scrapped the merit list prepared by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) for recruitment to the posts of 796 assistant section officers (ASO) in the state Secretariat.
Hearing a petition that alleged irregularities in the preparation of the merit list, a bench of Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra directed the OPSC to prepare a fresh merit list within two months on the basis of the total marks obtained by candidates in the written examination.
The recruitment examination was conducted on August 27, 2022 and the results were announced three months later, on November 7. More than 1.48 lakh candidates appeared in the written examination and 2,408 of them secured the requisite qualifying marks in each subject. The OPSC then shortlisted 1,104 candidates on the basis of aggregate for document verification and computer skill test, which was approximately 1.5 times of the 796 vacancies for which the examination was conducted.
Alleging irregularities in the selection process after announcement of the merit list, some of the aspirants who could not make it to the final list challenged the result in the High Court. They objected to the OPSC’s decision to introduce “qualifying marks” (a minimum score), known as sectional cut-off, in each paper to determine the merit list. The minimum qualifying marks was 40% for general category and 30% for aspirants belonging to socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC), Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
The aspirants had also staged a dharna outside the OPSC office in Cuttack on November 10.
Rajat Kumar Mishra, one of the petitioners, said the OPSC is not authorised to introduce sectional cut-off marks for different subjects as it is not in accordance with the Odisha Secretariat Service (method of recruitment and conditions of service) Rules, 2016.
“Neither the OPSC had mentioned about the cut-off marks when the advertisement was issued for recruitment to 796 posts of ASOs, nor such provision was followed during the previous recruitment process held in 2016. The new qualifying mark rule was introduced after completion of the written examination,” said Mishra.
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OPSC sources said it will take a call after examining the detailed order copy of the Orissa High Court.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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