Aspirants seek end to TSPSC, axing ministers over Group-1 exam cancellation
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court’s decision to cancel the Group-1 exams for a second time on Saturday came as a blow to aspirants, evoking sharp criticism and protests against the state government, ministers and the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC).
After the first exam held on October 16, 2022, was cancelled due to question paper leaks, the re-examination held on June 11 this year was also cancelled by the High Court after a few aspirants raised concerns over improper conduct of the same.
The cancellation, students from low-income families said, has left them in the lurch.
Scores of students and aspirants, after the cancellation announcement, took to the Osmania University campus, demanding the dissolution of the TSPSC and the constitution of a new board. They also demanded the resignations of ministers K.T. Rama Rao and Sabitha Indra Reddy.
Kranthi, a PhD scholar of the Telugu department of OU, said that this was the second blow to aspirants who fought for a separate Telangana in the hope of getting government jobs without obstacles. “I was preparing for Group-1 mains and was shocked to learn the news. I have to start from scratch. It has cost me a lot of money and effort.”
Sharath Naik, state president of Girijana Sakti, an organisation for ST welfare, said, “This is the result of the TSPSC officers' carelessness and stupidity. All other exams, including those for police officers in the SI and constable ranks, as well as teachers by various boards, were held without any problems and in a peaceful manner. The TSPSC, however, has failed conducting the exam twice. Officials and the state government should be ashamed of it.”
Sandeep S.P., an aspirant from Medak, said that preparing for the Group-1 exam for the third time would be difficult. “Thousands of jobless youth, like me, spend money on coaching. TSPSC officials are literally gambling with the lives of young people,” he said.
Swathi, an MA philosophy student, who appeared twice for the exam, said, “Since the formation of Telangana state, the BRS government has turned a blind eye to the student fraternity. While aspirants across the state protested over the paper leak and other issues, the Chief Minister remained silent. It appears to be stepmotherly treatment of Telangana youth, who suffered for statehood.”
“At the very least, the state government, particularly the Chief Minister, should discuss it and resolve the issue as soon as possible; else, the students, with the support of the opposition parties, would stage a statewide demonstration against the state government and TSPSC,” she said.
