Delhi High Court Asks SSC To Adopt Systematic Approach In Finalizing Question Papers & Answer Keys, Flags Serious Lapses
The Delhi High Court has asked the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to adopt a more systematic and rigorous approach in framing, vetting and finalising question papers and answer keys in the recruitment examinations.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Amit Mahajan said that institutionalising a clear and transparent policy for addressing ambiguities and objections will not only enhance the credibility of examinations but also significantly reduce avoidable litigation.
The Bench said that SSC must exercise greater academic rigour and administrative diligence in all future examinations, so as to prevent recurrence of the shortcomings evident in the present exercise.
The Court passed the order while refusing to interfere with the final answer key and evaluation process adopted by the SSC for the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE) 2024.
The Bench upheld the orders of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) which had dismissed challenges raised by unsuccessful candidates- petitioners before the High Court.
The candidates had alleged irregularities in the Tier-II examination, including the grant of bonus marks for 22 questions and changes in answers in the final answer key released after declaration of results.
The petitioners contended that such moderation diluted merit and unfairly benefited candidates who had either not attempted or incorrectly answered the questions.
Dismissing the petitions, the Bench said that the scope of judicial review is necessarily limited and that the Court cannot act as an appellate body to re-evaluate the considered opinions of the experts.
It said that judicial intervention is warranted only where there is a clear error of law, patent arbitrariness, or manifest procedural impropriety, which was not established in the matter.
However, the Court raised serious concern over the scale of errors in the question papers and answer keys, observing that the uniform grant of marks for as many as 22 questions reflected systemic lapses in question-setting and vetting.
The Bench said that the SSC is obliged to ensure that ambiguities are minimised and that moderation mechanisms do not inadvertently penalise candidates, who have made genuine effort, nor reward non-attempts, thereby safeguarding the level playing field that lies at the heart of competitive merit.
“Viewed cumulatively, while the conduct of the SSC in the present examination reveals serious lapses in academic rigour and administrative diligence that merit strong judicial disapproval, the corrective measures ultimately adopted were founded on expert opinion and cannot be characterised as vitiated by patent illegality, arbitrariness, or procedural impropriety warranting interference in the exercise of writ jurisdiction,” the judges said.
Title: DEVYANSHU SURYAVANSHI & ORS v. STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION & ANR & Other Connected Matters