The Allahabad High Court has intervened in a case alleging serious irregularities in the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) recruitment process for the UP-PCS-J (Mains) 2022 examination.
Acting on a writ petition, the court has directed the UPPSC to produce the petitioners’ original answer books in sealed covers for judicial scrutiny.
The bench, comprising Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh and Justice Donadi Ramesh, also instructed the UPPSC to upload the petitioners’ scores from the written test and interviews on its official website by December 7. This measure aims to promote transparency, as the court set December 12 as the next date for hearing.
The petitioners, led by Shravan Pandey, alleged arbitrary and unfair marking practices, including unauthorized tampering with scores. According to their claims, several candidates were inexplicably awarded ‘zero’ marks or significantly lower scores despite providing accurate answers. They further alleged that scores were deliberately reduced after the initial evaluation, raising concerns about the integrity of the UPPSC’s examination process.
The court highlighted two main grievances brought forth by the petitioners:
- Unreasonably low or zero marks awarded for correct answers.
- Alleged tampering with scores after the initial evaluation to lower candidates’ marks.
In response to these allegations, the court directed the UPPSC to take immediate remedial measures. These include publishing the petitioners’ results online and presenting the disputed answer sheets in sealed covers for the court’s inspection.
“The original, disputed answer books must be presented in sealed covers for the court’s inspection,” the bench emphasized in its order.
This development brings the UPPSC’s practices under scrutiny, aiming to ensure fairness and accountability in the state’s competitive recruitment process. As the case proceeds, the court’s directives will likely have broader implications for the transparency and reliability of such examinations in Uttar Pradesh.
