Rajasthan High Court Denies Relief to Candidates Over Incorrectly Filled OMR Sheets
The Rajasthan High Court recently ruled on a case involving candidates of a public examination who incorrectly filled their OMR sheets, leading to the rejection of their sheets from the evaluation process. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Ashutosh Kumar dismissed the petition filed by two aspirants, emphasizing the importance of upholding the sanctity of the selection process for public employment.
The petitioners had failed to adhere to the instructions for filling the OMR sheets, resulting in the exclusion of their sheets from the evaluation process, as they could not be appraised by the machines due to incorrect marking. Despite arguments from the petitioners’ counsel advocating for leniency and the opportunity to rectify the errors, the Court held firm in its decision, citing the necessity of strict compliance with the guidelines to uphold the integrity of the selection process.
The Court expressed concern that granting blanket relaxation for correcting mistakes in OMR sheets could potentially disrupt and undermine the selection process, citing previous legal precedents to support its decision. Notably, the Court referred to the case of Union of India & Ors. v Jagdish Chandra Jat, where similar issues had been addressed and correction in the OMR sheet had not been permitted. This decision was reinforced by a Supreme Court ruling emphasizing the paramount importance of adherence to issued instructions in the selection for public appointments.
Ultimately, the Rajasthan High Court’s decision serves as a reminder of the crucial need to meticulously follow prescribed procedures and guidelines in public employment examinations to maintain the transparency and fairness of the selection process.
Title: Payal Soni & Anr. v Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur & Anr.
For further details, the complete order can be accessed here.
