TGPSC moves high court against re-evaluation order in Group-I exam case

The Telangana Public Service Commission has filed a writ appeal against a High Court order directing re-evaluation of Group-I Mains answer scripts. TGPSC argues that re-evaluation is barred under its rules and that the judge’s directions are legally flawed and contradictory. The appeal is likely to be heard by a division bench soon.

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: The Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC) has filed a Writ Appeal before the Telangana High Court challenging the recent order of a single judge directing re-evaluation of Group-I Mains answer scripts, failing which the entire examination will stand cancelled.

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In its appeal, the TGPSC contends that the single judge’s ruling, delivered on September 9, was “perverse, contradictory and based on assumptions rather than evidence.”

The Commission said re-evaluation is expressly barred under its rules, which only permit recounting of marks within 15 days of the results declaration. Ordering re-evaluation, it said, was beyond the scope of the law.

The Commission also contended that the judge’s directions were self-contradictory—on the one hand requiring re-evaluation within eight months, and on the other declaring that if re-evaluation is not done, the entire Mains will be cancelled and fresh exams held.

TGPSC rebutted the claims that irregularities had occurred in hall ticket allotments, evaluation, or centre allocations. It clarified that: Attendance was recorded strictly through biometrics, leaving no scope for manipulation. Allegations of forged mark lists were already found to be false in a police investigation.

The distribution of men and women candidates across centres, including Koti Women’s College, was based on facilities and randomisation, not bias. Claims of discrimination against Telugu medium candidates were unsupported by evidence.

On the issue of evaluators, the Commission said only those who displayed consistency in mock evaluation were selected. Professors of government colleges who write books, it said, do so within their rights and cannot be disqualified.

The Commission strongly objected to the judge’s remarks questioning its evaluation methods, saying the Supreme Court itself had held that courts cannot dictate how professional bodies like PSCs conduct their processes. By revealing confidential material submitted in sealed cover, the single judge had jeopardised the integrity of the examination system, it added.

TGPSC has therefore sought that the single judge’s order be set aside in its entirety, arguing that it undermines the examination process, ignores established rules, and places undue weight on the grievances of unsuccessful candidates rather than the record placed by the Commission.

The appeal is expected to come up for hearing before the division bench shortly.