The Allahabad High Court today heard the case concerning the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service Civil Judge (Junior Division) Main Examination (UP PCS-J Main 2022) before a bench comprising Justices Manoj Kumar Gupta and Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra. The Judicial Commission, headed by former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Govind Mathur, submitted its investigation report in a sealed cover and suitcase to the court.
Senior Advocate SFA Naqvi, along with Advocates Shashwat Anand and Ankur Azad, represented the primary petitioner, Shravan Pandey. At the request of the counsel appearing for the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), the court scheduled the next hearing for July 9, 2025, when the sealed report is expected to be opened.
The case pertains to allegations of tampering with answer sheets, procedural irregularities, and discrepancies in the merit list of the UP PCS-J 2022 examination. The issue gained traction after the UPPSC admitted to a serious error in the evaluation process, where incorrect master fake codes were affixed to two bundles of answer sheets, leading to the swapping of marks for at least 50 candidates.
Justice Govind Mathur was tasked with investigating the tampering of answer sheets and evaluation irregularities. His report is anticipated to play a crucial role in ensuring transparency and fairness in the matter. The court has directed the UPPSC to preserve all relevant records until the investigation is concluded.
This case highlights significant concerns regarding procedural lapses in competitive examinations for judicial posts. The outcome of the July 9 hearing is expected to have far-reaching implications for affected candidates and set a precedent for accountability and transparency in public service recruitment in Uttar Pradesh.
