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Richal Petitioner(S) v. Rajasthan Public Service Commission (S)
Factual and Procedural Background
The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) advertised more than 13,000 posts of school lecturers. After the written examination, an answer key was published. Certain candidates challenged the accuracy of the key and the framing of some questions. A writ petition before the High Court resulted in an order directing that an Expert Committee be constituted. The Committee recommended deletion of 18 questions and correction of answers to others.
Dissatisfied, the same petitioners filed a second writ petition contending that 13 of the deleted questions were actually valid according to NCERT textbooks and that five additional questions remained incorrect. The High Court dismissed this second petition, citing public interest in avoiding further delay to the recruitment process. In the current proceedings, the Court notes that many successful candidates have already been appointed while several posts remain vacant.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether the report of the Expert Committee, which deleted 18 questions and corrected certain answers, is accurate and should remain final.
- Whether the Court should direct a further review of the disputed questions without disturbing appointments already made.
Arguments of the Parties
Petitioners' Arguments
- Thirteen questions were wrongly deleted; NCERT textbooks allegedly confirm their validity.
- Five questions are still incorrectly framed and require deletion or correction.
- They do not seek to disturb appointments already made but request re-evaluation of unfilled posts based on a fresh Expert Committee review.
RPSC's Position
- Counsel for RPSC requested time to obtain instructions regarding the petitioners’ proposal.
Table of Precedents Cited
No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The Court recorded the petitioners’ limited request—examining only the cases of candidates who have not yet been appointed—and acknowledged that successful candidates are already in service. Recognizing the need for RPSC’s response, the Court granted time for instructions and scheduled the matter for a later date.
Holding and Implications
The matter was adjourned and listed for further hearing on 06 February 2018.
Immediate Effect: No existing appointments are affected. RPSC must consider the petitioners’ proposal and report back to the Court.
Broader Implications: The final resolution may impact only the remaining vacancies; no new legal precedent has yet been established.
1. The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) had issued an advertisement for filling up of more than 13,000 posts of school lecturers in the State of Rajasthan. The written test was conducted pursuant thereto. The key to the answers was also published. Some of the candidates questioned that the aforesaid key does not give correct answers to some of the questions. It was mentioned that few questions were not even correctly framed. On that basis, a writ petition was filed in the High Court. Learned Single Judge after going into the said grievances of those candidates gave a direction for constituting the Expert Committee to examine as to whether the key to the answers is correct. The Expert Committee gave its report recommending deletion of 18 questions which according to the Expert Committee were not correctly framed and, therefore, needed to be deleted. It also corrected the answers to some other questions.
2. This led to second round of litigation as the petitioners herein (who were the writ petitioners in the High Court) submitted that even the aforesaid report of the Expert Committee was not correct. It was submitted that 13 questions were wrongly deleted. In support of this, the petitioners refer to the text books of the NCRT as per which those questions were rightly framed and there was no question to delete them. It was also submitted that five questions were still wrongly framed, which needed to be deleted or correct answers as suggested by the Expert Committee be corrected. The High Court has dismissed this writ petition. It has inter alia observed that the matter be given quietus inasmuch as it would be in the public interest not to delay the appointment of 13,000 teachers in the State of Rajasthan.
3. We are informed that after declaration of the result, successful candidates have already been given appointment. It is pointed out by the learned counsel for the petitioners that many posts are still lying vacant. They further submit that they have no objection if the candidates who have already been appointed, their appointment is not disturbed and at the same time the grievances as pointed out by the petitioners be looked into by the Expert Committee again and if it finds justification in the claim of the petitioners, fully or partially, only cases of other candidates who have not been appointed be re-examined on the basis of the report that would be given by the Expert Committee's recommendations on these aspects. The learned counsel for RPSC wants some time to take instructions in this behalf.
4. List the matters on 06.02.2018.
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