Nothing could have been more satisfying for the aggrieved TGPSC aspirants than the High Court delivering a caustic verdict, clearly stating that the General Ranking List was illegal and unsustainable. The Court further observed that the evaluation process lacked uniformity, transparency, and moderation. It also pointed out discrepancies in candidate numbers and skewed results across various centres—serious irregularities that cast a shadow over the entire process.
With so many strictures against the TGPSC, the aspirants naturally expected a total cancellation and a fresh exam, leaving no scope for mischief through revaluation. But that did not happen. At the very least, the general public expected the government to revamp the entire Commission if it meant serious business. Instead, the aspirants now smell a rat in the HC, leaving scope for the Commission to once again commit irregularities by allowing revaluation within eight months or conducting a re-exam.
On the one hand, the High Court has identified the irregularities in no uncertain terms and delivered stinging remarks; on the other, it has permitted revaluation of the scripts. This dampens the spirit of the verdict. In the name of a balancing act, perhaps the HC delivered what aspirants see as a half-baked order. They find its twin conclusions illogical. Why are courts not more assertive and willing to give clinching judgments? In fact, heads should have rolled in the Commission by now. Otherwise, suspicion among the unemployed will remain intact, and they will take any new result with a pinch of salt. Nothing can satisfy them more than a fresh exam.
It also remains to be seen whether the TGPSC will approach the Supreme Court, only to make a bigger blunder. They may even use this as an opportunity to shelve filling up the posts altogether, pushing the blame on the courts for the delay. That way, they get a reprieve from recruitment obligations and save on salaries—never mind splurging funds on beauty contests or music rejuvations. At the end of the day, it is the aspirants who continue to suffer, clinging to the same hope of somehow cracking the exam and securing a job.
One small consolation from the HC verdict is that even if there are a handful of deserving candidates who had worked hard but could not make it earlier for reasons best known to the Commission, the revaluation clause may turn out to be a godsend for them. But for the larger body of aspirants, only a fresh exam can offer real justice and allow them to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
That said, aspirants should also recognise the stark reality: given the sheer competition for jobs, these Service Commission exams are little more than a lottery across categories. Only a handful of candidates make it out of lakhs, leaving many in the general category frustrated, despite outstanding merit, because of reservations. While this is a necessary evil, aspirants must not sit idle, waiting endlessly to crack the exam attempt after attempt. They should be open to taking up any job that comes their way, anywhere in India.
Eight months is far too long a time for reevaluation in this digital era. The HC’s twin approach may well invite a review petition. The Court could have been more assertive. Having already established that the process was riddled with irregularities, only a fresh exam held on a clean slate could deliver real justice to honest, hardworking, meritorious candidates whose genuine merit was lost in the chaos.
PS: All disgruntled aspirants may go through my article in the link https://nagarjuna56.wordpress.com/2024/07/11/hunting-for-a-job-is-also-a-job/ to feel self-confident in not losing their heart and balance when they are not able to make it. They need not build up frustration because of the mistakes of either the government or the Commission but rather forge ahead in not remaining idle and not stay in the dark hoping for light to emerge by default. The candidates should go searching for the light when it doesn’t come to them.
