Telangana High Court to hear Group 1 Mains exam petition amid protests today
Hyderabad: A group of candidates has filed a petition in the Telangana High Court challenging the recent verdict regarding the Group 1 Mains examinations. A two-judge bench will hear the matter on Friday, October 18, 2024. This follows a decision by a single judge three days ago, which ruled that the Group 1 Mains examinations should proceed as scheduled.
The petitioners, consisting of five candidates, argue that the single judge did not adequately consider the erroneous questions present in the final answer key of the Group 1 preliminary examination. They contend that the deletion of these incorrect questions could significantly impact the merit list, thereby affecting their chances of qualifying for the Mains examination, set to begin on October 21.
The appeal highlights that the single judge failed to recognize the demonstrably wrong answers in the final key and erroneously suggested that the power of judicial review does not apply in such cases. The candidates pointed out that some questions were ambiguous, allowing for multiple answers, and that the correct options were missing.
Justice Pulla Karthik had previously dismissed two writ petitions that argued the preliminary test was conducted in violation of established norms.
Meanwhile, protests have intensified, with TGPSC Group 4 aspirants demonstrating at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad on October 18, 2024, demanding that there be no backlog posts in Group 4.
Tensions escalated as police reportedly detained around 50 aspirants during a candlelight march in Ashok Nagar. Eyewitnesses reported that women protestors were forcefully taken into police vans. The detentions occurred on the night of October 17, 2024, while the group was peacefully protesting at an Ashok Nagar signal.
In response to the protests, Bandi Sanjay, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Member of Parliament for Karimnagar, criticised the Telangana government, stating, “Rahul Gandhi promised Mohabbat ki Dukaan, but Telangana is turning into a Nafrat ka Bazaar! How dare you arrest young women at night? Job aspirants are being inhumanely dragged, beaten, and ignored. What is your stance on GO 29? Will you re-conduct the exam if the court rules against you? Instead of addressing the real concerns of job aspirants, the Congress government in Telangana is choosing to stifle voices with force.” https://x.com/bandisanjay_bjp/status/1847158210345447606?s=08
The BRS Working President, KTR also condemned the actions of the police, calling the detainment of peaceful protestors, especially women, “ridiculous governance.” He urged the Telangana Director General of Police to release those detained and requested the Chief Secretary to engage with the chairman of the Public Service Commission to resolve the matter amicably.
