3 months ago
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A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court comprising Justices Battu Devanand and A. Hari Haranadha Sarma connected Wednesday directed the State authorities to name the 326 candidates selected successful the Group-I main examinations conducted by the A.P. Public Service Commission(APPSC) successful December 2020 to non-focal posts, until further orders. The tribunal besides directed the Chief Secretary to taxable a compliance study earlier the Registrar(Judicial) wrong a week.
The Bench was disposing of a batch of interlocutory applications(IAs) filed by definite unsuccessful candidates challenging the process of integer evaluation. Describing the facts and circumstances arsenic peculiar, the tribunal recorded the contention of counsel for the petitioners that the selected candidates, if appointed to focal posts, would beryllium successful a presumption to power the people of immoderate enquiry oregon accusation sought by the court, by virtuousness of their authoritative positions.
The tribunal took enactment of the constitution of a Special Investigation Team by the State authorities to probe allegations of misappropriation of funds, conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust, manipulation of authoritative records and related offences. It besides referred to the study of a three-member committee headed by a erstwhile High Court justice connected the functioning of the APPSC, which incidentally examined the alleged entrustment of valuation of Group I reply scripts to a backstage bureau and the payments made successful that regard.
The notification for recruitment to 169 Group I posts was issued connected December 31, 2018. The preliminary introspection was conducted connected May 26, 2019, successful which 9,679 candidates qualified. The mains were held from December 14 to 20, 2020. Of the 6,807 candidates who appeared for the mains, 326 were declared qualified for interviews and attended them arsenic scheduled. At that stage, definite candidates approached the tribunal by filing writ petitions questioning the credibility of the integer valuation process, alleging violations of prescribed norms.
After proceeding the batch of writ petitions and connected interlocutory applications, the Division Bench observed successful its bid that it was constrained to signifier a prima facie sentiment that the sanctity of the valuation of OMR reply scripts by the Commission appeared to person been vitiated astatine a systemic level.
