In a significant development that could have financial repercussions for the BRS government, the Telangana High Court has invalidated the TSPSC Group 1 Prelims Exam 2023, which took place on June 11, and has mandated its re-administration. This marks the second time that the examination has faced cancellation. The court’s ruling came in response to a petition filed by a group of students, with support from the NSUI, asserting that the exam lacked a biometric attendance system and that the OMR sheets did not include hall ticket numbers.

Speaking exclusively to Smartkhabrinews, Balmoori Venkat, the president of NSUI Telangana, expressed, “The TSPSC board failed to implement the mandatory biometric system, as per the prescribed guidelines. The Supreme Court has unequivocally stated that these guidelines must be strictly adhered to. The Telangana High Court’s decision is influenced by the case of Hemalata vs. Tamil Nadu state.”

Venkat further pointed out, “There were also discrepancies in the count of OMR sheets. Initially, there were 2,33,206 sheets, but after 17 days, an additional 258 sheets were introduced through a web note. This implies a change in the number of candidates appearing for the exam. Recounting, if necessary, could have been accomplished within a day. Why did it take them 17 days?”

Following the High Court’s ruling, the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) promptly approached the Supreme Court. The TSPSC Group 1 Prelims Exam 2023 was initially conducted on October 16, 2022, but was annulled due to a paper leak. It was subsequently rescheduled for June 11 of the current year. The earlier cancellation had evolved into a major political controversy, with opposition parties, Congress and BJP, accusing the KCR government of leaving unemployed youth in a state of uncertainty. Many candidates had also expressed their disappointment at being required to retake the same exam.

Telangana BJP spokesperson Kishore Poreddy took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his frustration, stating, “Is it genuinely more challenging to recruit Group-I officers? Sending a Rover to the Moon – Chandrayaan – was seemingly simpler than conducting the Group-I exam in Telangana (sic).” This sentiment reflects the widespread discontent surrounding the examination’s recurring issues.

This ongoing saga of the TSPSC Group 1 Prelims Exam 2023 cancellation has raised questions about the administrative competence and integrity of the examination process. As students and authorities await further legal developments, the fate of the exam and the aspirations of numerous aspirants hang in the balance.