HC allows UPPSC mains to proceed but stresses ‘last minute interference will cause great chaos and injustice to thousands’

Recently, the Allahabad High Court dealt with a significant matter concerning the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) recruitment process and held that the mains examination scheduled for Assistant Engineer and other Group-A and Group-B posts shall proceed as planned, but its results will remain subject to the final outcome of the pending intra-court appeal. The Court emphasised that disrupting the examination at the last moment could lead to “great chaos and injustice” to thousands of candidates, warranting an interim balance of equity.

Brief Facts:

The case arose out of a challenge to the recruitment process conducted by the UPPSC for various engineering and technical posts under Advertisement No. A-9/E-1/2024. Initially, 604 vacancies were advertised, later increased to 609. After the preliminary examination, the Commission shortlisted 7,358 candidates for the mains. However, the petitioners, who had appeared in the examination, contended that the selection process violated Clause 11(8) of the advertisement and deprived certain candidates of fair opportunity. They sought directions to allow them to participate in the mains examination.

A Single Judge of the High Court allowed their writ petitions, directing the Commission to redraw the preliminary merit list and conduct the mains examination afresh on that basis. Aggrieved by this, the Commission filed the present intra-court appeal before the Division Bench.

Contentions of the Appellant:

The counsel for the UPPSC argued that the mains examination was scheduled imminently, with all logistical arrangements complete, including the issuance of admit cards and allocation of centres. He submitted that postponing or altering the process at this stage would adversely affect over 7,000 candidates and create unnecessary confusion. However, he assured that the examination, if conducted, could be made subject to the outcome of the appeal.

Counsel for the petitioners accepted this position but maintained that the Single Judge’s direction was legally sound and necessary to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Observations of the Court:

The Bench carefully considered the circumstances and the timing of the examination. It observed that interfering with the process at such a late stage would lead to severe consequences, noting, “As the examination is going to be held on 28.09.2025 and since more than 7000 candidates will be appearing in the said examination, any disturbance in the examination at the eleventh hour will result in great chaos and injustice to the appearing candidates.”

The Court emphasised the need to balance competing interests, on one hand, ensuring fairness in recruitment, and on the other, preventing disruption and hardship to thousands of candidates.

The decision of the Court:

In light of the above, the High Court, as an interim measure, directed that the mains examination scheduled for 28.09.2025 shall be conducted as per the original programme. However, the Court restrained the UPPSC from declaring the results until further orders and stayed the operative portion of the Single Judge’s judgment directing redrawing of the preliminary merit list.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on 07.10.2025.

Case Title: Public Service Commission - Up, Prayagraj Through Its Secretary  Vs. State of U.P and Ors.

Case No.: Special Appeal Defective No. - 816 of 2025

Coram: Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, Justice Anish Kumar Gupta

Advocate for Petitioner: Adv. Nipun Singh

Advocate for Respondent: C.S.C., Siddharth Khare