PSC-2019: MPPSC to wait for HC verdict on OBC quota to revise pre result – Times of India

Indore:Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) will wait till verdict from Madhya Pradesh High Court (MPHC) on Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation issue before revising PSC-2019 prelims result.
The commission officials took this decision after they got mixed legal opinions on the matter of holding a special mains examination — a demand raised by a group of students, mostly those who had qualified PSC-2019 mains examination, for new additions in the selection list.
MPPSC Chairman Dr Rajesh Lal Mehra told TOI, “The commission hasn’t decided on going ahead in PSC-2019 examination and waiting for judgement in the OBC reservation issue.”
“Whenever the MPHC decides OBC reservation issue, the commission will revise PSC-2019 prelims results and then decide over organising of mains examination”, said Dr Mehra.
On April 7 this year, the MP high court directed the commission to continue the recruitment process of PSC-2019 under 2015 exam results declaring 2020 rules as ultra vires. The exam rules 2020 barred meritorious students of reserved category from selection on unreserved category seats.
The court then in an interim order directed the commission to conduct the examination with 14% OBC reservation.
The commission however has decided otherwise and are waiting for a verdict in the OBC reservation matter, which arose after the MP government increased the quota to 27% in 2019 taking overall reservation to 73% in the state.
On the question of special mains, Dr Mehra said, “The commission hasn’t decided to conduct special mains yet”, adding, “There can’t be two examinations for a single recruitment because it will set a wrong precedent.”
“The commission is looking at different options as it has mixed legal opinions, wherein advice is both in favour and against”, Dr Mehra added.
In PSC-2019 examination, over 3 lakh candidates applied for pre-examination. Of those, 10,717 appeared in mains examination and 1918 were shortlisted for interview before the court asked the commission to revise the result.