New Delhi, February 5: The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition filed by unsuccessful candidates challenging certain questions in the Civil Services Exam 2023, particularly those in Paper-II (CSAT). The court stated that it cannot intervene in academic matters unless there is clear evidence of arbitrariness or illegality.
The bench, comprising Justices Amit Mahajan and Anil Kshatrapal, upheld the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which had previously rejected the candidates’ petition. The petition claimed that approximately 11 questions in the CSAT were outside the prescribed syllabus.
Justice Mahajan’s bench emphasized that the scope for judicial review in competitive exam-related matters is very limited. The court does not question the decisions of the examining body nor does it substitute its opinion for that of subject experts.
The petitioners, who failed the Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam 2023, argued that the disputed questions were sourced from the NCERT syllabus for classes 11 and 12, while the exam guidelines specified that CSAT questions should be at the class 10 level.
They contended that including such questions created an uneven playing field for all candidates and adversely affected the selection process.
Rejecting this argument, the Delhi High Court noted that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had submitted a report from an expert committee formed to investigate the candidates’ objections. The report concluded that all questions were within the prescribed syllabus and that the math questions were not more difficult than those at the class 10 level.
The bench stated, “When the expert committee opined that the questions were within the syllabus and the objections were unfounded, there was no need for compensation or correction. We do not have the institutional capacity to reassess the nature or level of the questions.”
The court also mentioned that mere disagreement with academic evaluations by experts, without any clear error or irregularity, cannot serve as a basis for judicial intervention.
Additionally, the Delhi High Court acknowledged the initial objection that some necessary parties were not included in the case. The court explained that the requested remedies, such as preparing a revised merit list or conducting new exams, would directly affect candidates who had already been selected and appointed.
The court stated, “It is clear that any order affecting an individual’s rights cannot be passed without giving them an opportunity to be heard.”
Since the entire Civil Services Exam 2023 process had already been completed and subsequent exams had taken place, the Delhi High Court asserted that it would not exercise its jurisdiction to grant unnecessary relief in public examinations.
Ultimately, the Delhi High Court dismissed the writ petition and resolved all pending applications.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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