C.S.DEEPUMON Vs. KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) PETITIONERS in these two writ petitions are candidates who appeared for written examination conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) for appointment to the post of Reserve Conductors under the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. Grievance is with respect to method adopted for conduct of the written examination in different regions. Eventhough the selection was on a statewide basis, the written examinations were conducted in three phases at different parts of the State. Complaint of the petitioners is that three different set of question papers were prepared for conduct of the examination. The standard of the questions, rather toughness of the different set of questions, had varied at different regions and therefore preparation of a common rank list on the basis of marks obtained by candidates appeared at different regions cannot be justified, is the contention. Hence the petitioners are seeking declaration that the examinations conducted are unsustainable. Interalia they seek direction to the 1st respondent to apply different cut off marks for the examinations conducted at different stages on the basis of recommendations of an expert body for preparing the rank list.

(2.) HEARD ; learned counsel appearing for the respondent and standing counsel for PSC.

(3.) HOWEVER it is stated that, since it is a statewide selection the PSC has decided to standardize the examinations conducted at different phases, with the help of expert statisticians. Such decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure uniformity in the selection process based on performance of the candidates.