Students' lives at stake due to TSPSC's negligence: HC

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court  closely questioned the TS Public Service Commission (TSPSC) on the manner of its functioning as the state’s premier recruitment agency. It observed that the commission had lost its credibility with the recent paper leakages and failure to conduct the prestigious Group-1 examination without following its own instructions.

A bench of Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti observed that all these incidents raised concerns and suspicions over the working of the TSPSC, while hearing the commission’s appeal against the cancellation of the exam.

The bench asked the TSPSC why it had not obtained the biometrics of the candidates, after declaring that it would do so. The bench questioned the variations in the number of OMR sheets and asked if the TSPSC staff was so inefficient that it could not count.

“Because of your (TSPSC) failure ,the future of lakhs of students is at stake and this has resulted in driving the students to suicide,” the bench observed, expressing concern and displeasure at the “callous and lackadaisical way” adopted by the TSPSC in holding the exam the second time.

Justice Shavili said the TSPSC could have issued an addendum to the notification stating that the biometric system will not be used, which is not done. He noted that the TSPSC had used the system in the first exam (in October 2022, which was cancelled after the paper leak scam).

“Look at the plight of the unemployed youth, due to the cancellation of the examination due to technical glitches and technical snags…,” he said.

Justice Jukanti, said, “the TSPSC was callous in holding the exam and even removed the biometric system … such an action of the TSPSC falls under the domain of ‘fraud.’.

Advocate General B.S. said it was mere apprehension of the petitioners that there would be impersonation and there was no evidence to prove the allegations. He said that the TSPSC had the power to alter or relax a rule.

As for not implementing the biometric system, Prasad cited the large number of candidates and paucity of time. “Even the UPSC is not using the biometric method,” he said.

The bench adjourned the hearing to Wednesday.