HC SCRAPS MERIT LIST OF J’KHAND CIVILS EXAM

Court finds errors in addition of marks; fate of 326 candidates hangs in the balance

In a major embarrassment to the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), the high court (HC) on Monday quashed merit list of the 6th civil services examination, through which 326 successful candidates were appointed against different cadre positions.

The bench of justice SK Dwivedi declared the final list of successful candidates as null and void, and directed the commission to issue a fresh merit list after making the required corrections within eight weeks. It also directed the state government to make cadre allocation of the successful candidates as per the new revised list within next four weeks. The bench found that the JPSC committed grave error by adding the marks obtained by candidates in mains qualifying papers (Hindi and English) to prepare the final merit list. “This was done against the prevailing rules,” the bench observed.

The JPSC had published a final merit list of 326 successful candidates on April 23 last year.

These candidates have already joined service in different cadre posts.

RANCHI: In a major embarrassment to the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), the high court (HC) on Monday quashed merit list of the 6th civil services examination, through which 326 successful candidates were appointed against different cadre positions, due to erroneous addition of marks.

The bench of justice SK Dwivedi declared the final list of successful candidates as “null and void”, and directed the commission to issue a fresh merit list after making the required corrections within eight weeks. It also directed the state government to make cadre allocation of the successful candidates as per the new revised list within next four weeks.

The bench found that the

JPSC committed grave error by adding the marks obtained by candidates in mains qualifying papers (Hindi and English) to prepare the final merit list. “This was done against the prevailing rules,” the bench observed.

The JPSC, in October, 2016, floated an advertisement to hold 6th civil services examination to recruit 326 candidates for different cadre jobs in the state government.

The state civil services examination was conducted in three stages--preliminary, mains and viva voce.

Based on the marks obtained by the candidates in mains and viva voce examinations, it published a final merit list of 326 successful candidates on April 23 last year.

These candidates have joined service in different cadre posts.

“The judgment is likely to impact the fate of candidates who have already joined the service. The new merit list will change the result, as there are chances that some candidates, who earlier qualified the exams, may not get through this time. There are also chances that cadres of some successful candidates may change after the new merit list is published,” said senior advocate Ajit Kumar, who pleaded the case on behalf of some petitioners.

The matter came before the court in the form of 16 different petitions filed by many unsuccessful candidates, challenging the results on different grounds.

The court, however, dismissed all these petitions, except the one filed by one Dilip Kumar Singh, pointing out the aforesaid error committed in preparation of the merit list.

Earlier in February this year, the bench heard all the petitions at length and kept its order reserved.

Pronouncing the judgment on Monday, the bench said the JPSC should fix responsibility on officials responsible for commission of this grave mistake.

“Action should be taken against these officials to preempt recurrence of such flaws in future,” the bench said.

Action should be taken against these officials to preempt recurrence of such flaws in future.

HC BENCH OF JUSTICE SK DWIVEDI