Allahabad High Court allows UPPSC Mains Exam on schedule despite reservation controversy

Court Reverses Single Bench Decision

The controversy began when Justice Ajit Kumar's single bench initially ordered the postponement of the mains examination on September 25, directing UPPSC to prepare a revised merit list for the preliminary exam results. The court had ruled that OBC candidates who scored higher than general category candidates should be included in the unreserved category list, not confined to reserved category quotas.

However, considering the urgency and potential chaos that would result from last-minute changes affecting thousands of candidates, the division bench intervened. The court observed that "any disturbance in the examination at the eleventh hour will result in great chaos and injustice to the appearing candidates".

Key Issues Raised by Petitioners

The legal challenge centered around two primary complaints from reserved category candidates. First, 42 petitioners led by Rajat Maurya argued that UPPSC's category-wise merit list preparation violated equal treatment principles. Despite scoring marks equal to or higher than general category candidates, many OBC aspirants were confined only to reserved lists.

Second, petitioners claimed UPPSC failed to follow the advertised 1:15 shortlisting ratio. Instead of qualifying 9,135 candidates for 609 posts, only 7,358 candidates were declared eligible for the mains stage. This discrepancy significantly reduced opportunities for deserving candidates across all categories.

Recruitment Details and Stakes

The examination covers 609 posts across multiple engineering disciplines, including Assistant Engineer (Civil/Mechanical), District Horticulture Officer, Food Processing Officer, and Senior Technical Assistant positions in Chemistry, Botany, Agronomy, and Plant Protection. These Group-A and Group-B positions represent significant career opportunities in Uttar Pradesh's administrative services.

The mains examination will be conducted over two days with dual sessions daily - morning sessions from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM and afternoon sessions from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Examination centers are located in Prayagraj and Lucknow.youtube

Results on Hold Pending Appeal

While the examination proceeds as scheduled, the division bench imposed a critical condition - results cannot be declared until the special appeal hearing concludes in October. This ensures that if the appeal succeeds, candidates' interests remain protected while avoiding immediate disruption to thousands of aspirants.

The court emphasized maintaining "equity and balance of justice" by allowing the scheduled examination while keeping the final outcome subject to legal resolution. Senior Advocate Anoop Trivedi represented UPPSC in successfully arguing for the examination to proceed.

Broader Reservation Policy Implications

This case highlights ongoing debates about reservation implementation in public service recruitment. The Supreme Court has consistently ruled that reserved category candidates scoring above unreserved cutoffs should migrate to general category lists when they haven't availed category-specific relaxations. However, the timing of such migration - whether at preliminary or final stages - remains contentious.

The Allahabad High Court's intervention ensures immediate relief for candidates while preserving the legal challenge's substance. With results withheld pending final adjudication, this case may establish important precedents for reservation policy implementation across Indian public service commissions.