The Supreme Court has refused to stay the ongoing Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC) Grade-I services recruitment exams, permitting the examinations to proceed as scheduled. The plea for a stay was rejected by the top court, citing that the exams were set to take place today, and students had already arrived at their respective exam centres. “The examination is to commence at 2 pm… There will be chaos if we stay the exam at this stage,” said a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, when senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for a petitioner, pressed for an interim stay.
The decision comes amid concerns raised by petitioners regarding the recruitment process. However, the apex court stressed the logistical challenges and noted that halting the exams at this stage would cause "unnecessary disruption for the candidates".
Sibal had submitted the aspirants would lose out on the chance to appear in the exam being conducted for the first time in the state. Group-I mains examination conducted by the TGPSC commenced on Monday and will continue till October 27 for the 563 vacancies.
TSPSC Grade-I examination
A total of 31,383 candidates have qualified for the mains exam. These exams were being held for the first time since the formation of Telangana and 2011, when it was last held. The quota policy, being followed by the TGPSC as per a government order (GO), has been challenged in the apex court by one Pogula Rambabu.
The top court noted the Telangana High Court was seized of the matter and asked it to decide the matter before the declaration of the results. Candidates have been protesting against the GO seeking rescheduling of the examinations on the ground that SCs (scheduled castes), STs (scheduled tribes) and backward classes suffer under its reservation provisions.
(With inputs from agencies)
