MPSC told to ensure OMR sheets signed by supervisor
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 28 2023:
The Manipur High Court has directed the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) to ensure the OMR sheets are signed by the supervisor concerned to quell the concerns and restlessness of the civil service aspirants with regard to Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination 2022 (MCSCCE) .
A hearing on two petitions hied by MCSCCE candidates mentioning the Manipur government represented by the chief secretary and MPSC by the secretary concerned as respondents was heard in the court of Manipur High Court acting Chief Justice MV Muralidaran and Justice A Guneshwar Sharma on April 26 and judgement announced on Friday.
The writ petitions were hied against the notification issued for conduct of MPSC Preliminary Examination-2022 for filling up 100 vacant posts of MCA Grade-II, MPS Grade-II, MPS Grade-III, Sub -Deputy Collector and four posts of MSS category.
According to the petitioners, all of the candidates are eligible for MCSCCE.
However, it was found that MPSC was trying to conduct the examination under MPSC Examination Rules, 2011, which is in violation of the court's orders.
As such, Writ Petition z(C) no.366 and 370 of 2023 urged for quashing the advertisement issued by MPSC on December 7, 2022 for recruitment of various posts and the notification issued on February 20, 2023 through Controller of Examination for conduct of preliminary examination on April 30.The petitioners further urged for directing MPSC to frame/amend the existing exam rules in accordance with the order passed by the Special Division Bench of Manipur High Court on October 18, 2019 and another order passed on May 11, 2022 before conducting MCSCCE 2022-23 .
The petitions also pleaded the court to order/give direction to terminate/review/dis-miss or freeze pension benefits of MPSC officials found to be involved in "rigging" MCSCCE on multiple occasions, while further praying to the court to stay the advertisement and notice issued by MPSC and Controller of Examination respectively.
The court noted that the issues brought up by the petitioners had already been settled by a judgement of a single bench of Manipur High Court on May 2, 2022.As an order passed by a division bench of the Manipur High Court on May 13, 2022 had rejected the application for amendment, the court dismissed the writ petition.
Nonetheless, taking the concerns and restlessness of the petitioners, the court directed MPSC to ensure the supervisor concerned puts his/her signature on the left side of the OMR sheets.