Hearing on Petition Regarding BPSC 70th Preliminary Exam Scheduled for Thursday in Patna High Court
Patna, January 15 The much-anticipated hearing on a petition demanding a stay on the results of the Bihar Public Service Commission’s (BPSC) 70th Preliminary Examination and a re-conduct of the test will now take place on January 16 in the Patna High Court. The hearing, which was initially scheduled for today, had to be postponed due to the farewell ceremony of Chief Justice K.V. Chandran.
A single bench of Justice A.S. Chandel will preside over the hearing on the petition filed by Pappu Kumar and others. The petitioners have alleged large-scale irregularities during the conduct of the preliminary examination held on December 13, 2024, and are demanding an independent investigation into the matter, followed by a fresh examination.
Allegations of Irregularities During the Examination
According to the petition, significant malpractices were reported across 28 examination centers on the day of the BPSC 70th preliminary exam. The petitioners have raised several serious concerns, including:
- Non-functional jammers: It has been alleged that signal jammers meant to prevent cheating through electronic devices were not operational at multiple examination centers, leaving the process vulnerable to malpractice.
- Involvement of invigilators: Several invigilators allegedly assisted candidates by providing answers during the exam.
- Use of microphones for answer announcements: In some centers, answers were reportedly announced through microphones, facilitating mass cheating.
- Last-minute change in examination centers: Just a day before the examination, the exam centers for 5,000 candidates were changed, leading to confusion and logistical issues. Evidence related to these changes has been attached to the petition filed in the court.
Demand for Re-examination
The petitioners have requested the court to order a re-conduct of the 70th preliminary examination, citing a lack of fairness and transparency in the previous test. They have also urged for a thorough investigation into the alleged malpractices to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents in future examinations.
Legal Implications
This case holds significant importance, as a verdict in favor of the petitioners could potentially result in a re-examination, affecting thousands of candidates who appeared for the test. It also raises broader questions about the integrity of competitive exams conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission.
Advocates representing the petitioners have emphasized that such large-scale irregularities undermine the credibility of the examination process and jeopardize the future of honest candidates. On the other hand, BPSC officials have maintained that the exam was conducted fairly and that allegations of malpractice are baseless.
Candidates Await High Court’s Decision
Thousands of aspirants who took the BPSC 70th preliminary exam are now anxiously awaiting the outcome of the hearing. The decision of the Patna High Court will play a pivotal role in determining whether the results will be declared or the examination will have to be conducted again.
Background of the Controversy
The BPSC 70th preliminary examination was conducted on December 13, 2024, across multiple centers in Bihar. Shortly after the exam, several candidates reported instances of cheating and irregularities at various exam centers. Social media platforms were flooded with complaints, prompting political parties and student organizations to demand action against those responsible.
The Jan Suraj Party, along with several candidates, approached the Patna High Court seeking a stay on the results and a directive for re-examination. Their plea argues that allowing the results to be declared without addressing the allegations would be unfair to deserving candidates.
Key Demands in the Petition:
- Investigation into the alleged irregularities at 28 examination centers.
- Immediate stay on the declaration of results until the investigation is complete.
- Re-conduct of the 70th preliminary examination to ensure a fair selection process.
- Accountability of officials involved in the alleged malpractices.
