The Allahabad High Court has taken a significant step in addressing issues related to the Uttar Pradesh PCS(J) Competitive Examination. On Wednesday, the court officially acknowledged the submission of a Preliminary Report by the Justice Govind Mathur-led Commission, which suggests immediate procedural reforms in the exam system.
A Division Bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra recorded that the report, titled Preliminary Report (Part-I), was submitted in 14 sets. A cover letter attached to the report highlighted that it focuses on broader issues and suggests urgent reforms in the examination process.
“The report is primarily based on key procedural concerns and immediate reforms. Final recommendations will follow after consultations with other statutory agencies and institutions using technology for descriptive assessments,” — Justice Govind Mathur Commission's cover letter
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The Court ordered its Office to distribute copies of the report to all counsels involved in the matter. This will allow them to review the findings and submit written responses before the next hearing, scheduled for August 6, 2025.
This development is linked to a court order that had previously appointed the Commission to examine serious irregularities and discrepancies in the UP PCS(J) exam. The petition was initially filed by Shravan Pandey, who, through Senior Advocate Syed Farman Ahmad Naqvi and Advocate Shashwat Anand, alleged that his answer sheet had been tampered with and the handwriting was not his.
“Multiple candidates have raised concerns regarding unfair evaluation and inconsistencies in the exam procedure,” — Court observations
The report is expected to offer solutions on the following critical points:
- Enhancing the evaluation process to make it more reliable and fair.
- Enforcing procedures that promote accountability.
- Revising or introducing mechanisms to prevent deviations from standard practices.
- Understanding why the Commission failed to self-correct errors before announcing the results on August 30, 2023.
In July 2024, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) itself admitted to a serious error in preparing the merit list for 50 candidates in the PCS-J 2022 Mains examination.
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“This Court finds it necessary to initiate a detailed and independent probe to protect the sanctity of judicial recruitment,” — High Court Bench
Given the overlapping nature of various petitions and increasing grievances from candidates, the High Court stressed the urgent need for a transparent and credible system. The court reiterated that the standard practices followed by the Commission require serious reform and technological upgradation to maintain public trust.
The case remains under active consideration, and the final report by the Justice Mathur Commission is expected to bring comprehensive changes to the examination framework.