Telangana HC Orders Revaluation or Re-Exam for TGPSC Group-1: Merit List Cancelled Amid Evaluation Irregularities

In a major decision affecting thousands of aspirants, the Telangana High Court on Tuesday (September 9, 2025) directed the Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC) to either re-evaluate the Group-1 Mains answer sheets or cancel the exam and conduct it afresh. The verdict comes in response to a series of petitions questioning the fairness and transparency of the evaluation process in the Group-1 Mains exam held in October 2024 for 563 notified vacancies.

The court also struck down the merit list released by TGPSC on March 10, 2025, delivering a serious blow to candidates who were awaiting appointment letters.

Timeline of the Controversy

• October 21–27, 2024: Group-1 Mains exams conducted by TGPSC
• March 10, 2025: Results declared; merit list released
• Post-March 10: Multiple petitions filed by candidates alleging irregularities in evaluation
• April 2025: TGPSC recruitment process put on hold by court directive
• September 9, 2025: High Court orders re-evaluation or cancellation and re-conduct of exam

What Led to the Court’s Intervention?

Following the declaration of results, several dozen candidates approached the High Court, citing serious concerns about the evaluation process. Some even demanded a complete cancellation of the exams. The key allegations included:

• Suspicious scoring patterns, with top scorers concentrated in just two exam centres
• An unusually high number of qualifiers from a single college, raising questions about favoritism or systemic bias
• Lack of Telugu-medium invigilators, disadvantaging non-English medium candidates
• Evaluation of Telugu-medium answer sheets by professors proficient only in English
• Lack of transparency and inadequate guidelines for evaluators

These issues collectively painted a picture of possible procedural violations, prompting the court to take serious note of the matter.

TGPSC's Defence and Counter-Petitions

While the petitioners challenged the integrity of the evaluation, some top scorers filed counter-petitions opposing the cancellation of the exams or merit list. They argued that the results were valid and that cancelling the process would unfairly penalise those who worked hard and succeeded.

The TGPSC defended its process, stating in its affidavit that the evaluation was fair, impartial, and conducted by qualified professionals proficient in both English and Telugu. However, the court was not fully convinced, citing multiple procedural lapses and unresolved discrepancies.

HC’s Directions

After weighing both sides, the Telangana High Court has now mandated the following:

1. Re-evaluate all Group-1 Mains answer sheets and release a new merit list within eight weeks
2. If re-evaluation is not feasible, the entire exam will be cancelled, and TGPSC must conduct the Group-1 Mains again

This puts the onus back on the TGPSC to demonstrate transparency and fairness, while offering some hope to those who had challenged the original merit list.

Impact on Aspirants

The ruling directly impacts the 21,000+ candidates who had appeared for the Group-1 Mains examination in October 2024. For those who had cleared the exam and were awaiting appointments, this comes as a deep disappointment.

At the same time, candidates who had flagged evaluation issues now see this as a vindication of their concerns, and an opportunity for a fairer process.

Until the re-evaluation or re-exam is conducted, all recruitment activity remains on hold.

Political Implications: Congress Govt in the Spotlight

The verdict also has a significant political dimension. The smooth conduct of public recruitment exams was a key election promise of the Congress ahead of the November 30, 2023, Telangana Assembly elections.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had assured the youth of transparent recruitment, promising to release a job calendar and fill two lakh government vacancies. The decision by the High Court now challenges the credibility of the ongoing recruitment drives and puts additional pressure on the government to restore public trust.

Looking Ahead: What Happens Next?

The TGPSC must now decide whether:

• It will go ahead with a full re-evaluation under court supervision, or
• Cancel the exam entirely and reschedule it, a process that could take several more months

Either path involves significant logistical challenges and will affect thousands of candidates' career timelines.

The Commission is yet to release an official statement in response to the verdict, but an announcement is expected in the coming days.

Final Thoughts

The Telangana High Court’s decision underscores the critical importance of transparency and fairness in public recruitment. In a state where government jobs remain a primary avenue for upward mobility, even the perception of bias or mishandling can erode public confidence.