Group-1 recruitment: Telangana High Court wants arguments to be expedited

The court notes that candidates have been waiting for appointment orders and that the recruitment has already suffered substantial delay

Hyderabad: Justice Namavarapu Rajeshwar Rao of the Telangana High Court on Monday urged both parties to expedite arguments in the ongoing batch of writ petitions challenging the Group-1 recruitment process, noting that candidates have been waiting for appointment orders and that the recruitment has already suffered substantial delay.

The judge was hearing a batch of writ petitions filed by aspirants, including Paramesh Matta and 19 others, who raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the Group-1 Mains examination conducted by the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TGPSC) between October 21 and 27, 2024. The petitioners challenged the recruitment process initiated under Notification No. 04/2024, dated February 19, 2024.

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During Monday’s hearing, senior advocates G Vidyasagar and Surender Rao, appearing for the petitioners, continued their submissions. They argued that the Commission had not adhered to the conditions stipulated in the notification, particularly in matters related to allocation of exam centres, issuance of hall tickets and inconsistencies in the evaluation process. They also cited disproportionate results in certain centres and discrepancies in the final selection list.

Earlier, the court had directed the State government not to issue appointment orders until final adjudication of the case, though allowing TGPSC to proceed with certificate verification of shortlisted candidates. TGPSC had also filed interim applications seeking vacation of the stay, citing that further delay would prejudice the interests of selected candidates.

As the court’s session came to a close on Monday, the hearing was adjourned to Tuesday to continue the arguments. Justice Rajeshwar Rao reiterated that the matter must be concluded without delay, stating: “Candidates are waiting — the process has already been too long.”