ALICE USHA RANI SINGH Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State. Petitioner has been' made accused for the offence under Sections 420/423/424/467/468/469/471/477A/120B/109/201 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 13(2) r/w. Sections 13(1)(d) of the P.C. Act, in connection with R.C. No. 05(A)/2012 -AHD -R.

(2.) THE petitioner was working as Controller of Examinations in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as the 'Commission'), and there is allegation against the Chairman and the Members, as also the petitioner, to have made serious irregularities in the 1st Combined Civil Services Examinations conducted by the Commission. The allegation against the petitioner and the co -accused persons includes that though there was advertisement for the post of 64 Deputy Collectors, but much more candidates, than the required number of candidates, were selected in the P.T. Examination as well as in the Main Examination. There is also allegation of getting the answer sheets examined by unknown Examiners or by the Examiners, whose consent was not obtained earlier, rather, their consent was obtained after handing over the answer sheets to them. There is also allegation against the petitioner that the answer books were sent to all the examiners by one dispatch and two Coordinators were appointed for multiple subjects. It is also alleged that the Agency, which had prepared the merit list, was also not authorized by the Commission. Based on these allegations, the FIR was lodged against the petitioner, the Chairman and the Members of the Commission.

(3.) LEARNED counsel for the CBI on the other hand opposed the prayer for bail submitting that the petitioner was the Controller of Examinations in the Commission and it was her prime duty to ensure fairness in all respects in the examination. Learned counsel accordingly, submitted that the petitioner cannot be equated with the other co -accused persons, who have been granted bail on the ground of long period of their custody. Learned counsel accordingly, opposed the prayer for bail.