The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a plea concerning alleged irregularities in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination held on December 13, 2024, and the subsequent police action against protestors. The bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan, advised the petitioners to seek redress at the Patna High Court.
The plea, presented by Anand Legal Aid Forum Trust, highlighted concerns over the handling of peaceful protests by Bihar police and called for the cancellation of the contentious exam. The counsel for the petitioners argued that the issues, including a reported paper leak, warranted the apex court’s intervention due to their recurring nature.
However, Chief Justice Khanna emphasized the appropriateness of handling the matter locally. “We understand your sentiments attached…but we cannot be the court of first instance,” he stated, suggesting that approaching the Patna High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution would be more expedient and appropriate.
During the discussions, the counsel also noted that the site where police reportedly charged protestors with batons was in proximity to the official residence of the Patna High Court’s chief justice, implying that a suo motu action could have been initiated.
The controversy around the BPSC exam not only involved alleged police brutality but also operational mishaps, leading to the state public service commission ordering a re-examination on January 4, 2025, at 22 centers in Patna for affected candidates. Out of 12,012 eligible candidates, 8,111 downloaded their admit cards, with 5,943 ultimately appearing for the retest.
Adding to the political dimension of the controversy, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, who had been on an indefinite fast at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan supporting the protestors, was arrested and subsequently released on bail. Due to health complications arising from his fast, Kishor was admitted to the ICU of Medanta Hospital in Patna on Tuesday.
