In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has agreed to hear a petition seeking the disclosure of the answer key for the preliminary examination of the Union Service Public Commission (UPSC) civil services exam. This decision has ignited hope among aspirants and is seen as a crucial step toward transparency in the examination process.
The plea was filed by a group of 17 civil services aspirants who were unsuccessful in the preliminary examination. They assert that the release of the answer key is vital to ensure fairness and transparency. The petition argues that candidates have the right to know the correct answers to the questions asked in the examination, allowing them to assess their performance accurately.
The petitioners have pointed out that the disclosure of the preliminary answer key is a common practice in many competitive examinations conducted by government agencies. It enables candidates to gauge their performance, identify areas for improvement, and seek recourse in case of any discrepancies in the evaluation process.
Justice Chandra Dhara Singh’s judgment states, “This Court is of the considered opinion that mere asking for the answer key, which may be used to assess the performance of the candidates, does not amount to interference in the process of recruitment barring this Court to exercise its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. As such, in view of the precedents and exposition of the law, this Court is of the view that there is no hurdle in adjudicating the instant petition.”
The court clarified that any remarks made in this order will not impact other proceedings before other courts. The order on merits will be passed after hearing the parties in subsequent proceedings.
The Court had withheld its judgment on the admissibility of the petition on August 2 but has now scheduled the case for a hearing on merits on September 26.
The outcome of this hearing is eagerly awaited by aspirants and candidates, as it could have significant implications for the recruitment process for government jobs in India. The Delhi High Court’s commitment to hearing the plea is seen as a positive step toward addressing candidate concerns and maintaining the integrity of the examination system.
