The Supreme Court has issued a notification to the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) and the Odisha government amidst a dispute concerning the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) examination. The notification comes before the Hon’ble Court as special Leave petition( SLP) to address the controversy surrounding the ASO exam.
Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken up a special leave petition (SLP) regarding the controversy over the recruitment of Assistant Section Officers (ASOs) in Odisha. The petitioner, Rajat Kumar Mishra, challenged the Orissa High Court’s decision upholding the Odisha Public Service Commission’s (OPSC) selection process after he wasn’t shortlisted. Justices JK Maheswari and Sudhanshu Dhulia issued notices to the Odisha government and the OPSC, setting a four-week timeline for further examination.
The background of the case, OPSC has shortlisted over 1,104 candidates for computer-based skill tests out of 1,48,888 candidates who participated in the written examination for 796 ASO positions. The controversy arose when the OPSC introduced subject-specific cut-off marks for the merit list, which was challenged in the High Court.
A single judge bench ruled against the OPSC’s merit list in May 2023, but a division bench later overturned this decision in December, finding no fault with the OPSC’s selection list. The case highlights the complexities of public service recruitment processes and the legal scrutiny they face regarding fairness and adherence to advertised criteria. The Supreme Court’s decision could have significant decision over the recruitment practices in Odisha.
