The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday declined to stay the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) mains examination scheduled for April 25, 2025.
It also dismissed multiple petitions seeking the cancellation of the 70th BPSC Combined Competitive Preliminary Examination held on December 13, 2024, over allegations of a question paper leak.
Court’s Finding
A bench consisting of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan ruled that the petitioners failed to provide adequate, verifiable, and conclusive proof of any large-scale paper leak. The court maintained that while allegations were serious, decisions involving public recruitment examinations must be based on substantial evidence, and not on speculation or isolated incidents.
Petitioners Present Digital Evidence Of Alleged Leak
Senior advocate Anjana Prakash, representing the petitioners, presented digital material including WhatsApp conversations, screen recordings, and video clips. These, she argued, indicated that the preliminary question papers were leaked and circulated before the examination date. The counsel urged the court to uphold the integrity of the examination process and order a re-test to ensure fairness.
Despite the claims, the bench observed that the evidence did not establish a systematic or widespread leak significant enough to invalidate the entire preliminary exam. The judges remarked that canceling the exam based on partial or unverified information would cause unnecessary harm to thousands of candidates who had appeared for the test fairly.
Relief For Candidates
This ruling brings clarity and relief to lakhs of BPSC aspirants preparing for the next stage of the examination. With the apex court declining to interfere, the BPSC mains exam will now go ahead as originally planned on April 25. The decision ends weeks of uncertainty and speculation surrounding the future of the recruitment process.
Legal analysts note that this decision reinforces the judiciary’s cautious approach in matters involving public service examinations. While the courts are open to reviewing evidence of malpractices, they remain mindful of the implications of disrupting large-scale recruitment efforts without definitive proof.
The Bihar Public Service Commission is expected to issue final instructions for the mains exam in the coming days. Candidates are advised to keep checking the official BPSC website for updates on admit cards, exam centers, and guidelines.
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