TSPSC paper leak: Two petitions filed to re-conduct exam after investigation, dismissed

Telangana: A lunch motion petition was filed in Telangana high court, by T. Ramesh, an employee, alleging how can the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) conduct the TSPSC Group 1 preliminary exam scheduled to be held on June 11, 2023, without the completing investigation

Further, the petitioner urged the Court to postpone the TSPSC Group 1 preliminary examination till the completion of the investigation.

Another writ petition was filed by J. Sudhakar, an employee, from Gurrampode, Nalgonda District alleging that the Secretary, TSPSC, Hyderabad who has issued Group-I preliminary examination schedule without changing neither the main staff of the TSPSC nor taken any appropriate steps to conduct the Group-I Preliminary Examination with fair and transparent manner.

The third respondent said, the secretary, TSPSC and its staff members are accused in the earlier Group-I paper leak scam. The TSPSC authority is again conducting the Group-I examination with the same crew, which is nothing but collusion. It is illegal, and consequently, to stay all further proceedings, including conducting of the Group-I prelims examination scheduled to be held on June 11, in the interest of justice.

The single bench of justice Mummineni Sudheer Kumar heard the lunch motion petition and the writ petition.

On behalf of petitioner Ramesh, Senior counsel Avinash Desai argued that the police are continuing the TSPSC paper leakage issue. "Conducting the examination without completion of the police investigation is a sheer violation of norms, and it would cause doubt among the TSPSC aspirants," senior counsel argued.

Avinash Desai argued before the court that sufficient grounds are there not to conduct the exam by the TSPSC.

"The examination is to be held after a long gap of 11 years, and 5 lakh applications have been received by the TSPSC, which has to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner," Avinash Desai said.

Advocate General Banda Shivananda Prasad informed the Court that postponement of Group 1 Preliminary exam is not possible at this stage.

"More than 3.80 lakh candidates are appearing for the examination. Every arrangement has been made for the examination and moreover, postponement is unwarranted and it may affect the innocent aspirants," Advocate General Prasad informed the Court.

"A criminal case is pending, and the investigation has nothing to do with the examinations. How does the examination affect the petitioner, AG Prasad queried.

He assured to the court there is reshuffling in the TSPSC cadre and one IAS officer has been appointed as Controller of Examination. Group 1 preliminary examination will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

The Telangana high court on Monday dismissed two petitions seeking postponement of TSPSC Group 1 Preliminary examination.