The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed all writ appeals challenging the decision to revisit the selection process for the Primary Teacher Selection Test 2025, paving the way for verification of RCI qualification claims and preparation of a fresh merit list.

A division bench comprising Justice Anand Pathak and Justice B.P. Sharma upheld the May 6, 2026 order of the single judge, which had directed the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board to re-examine candidates who had claimed eligibility for 5% bonus marks on the basis of qualifications recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

The controversy affects the selection process for 13,089 primary teacher posts. According to the case details, a large number of candidates had received the additional marks after indicating in their online applications that they possessed the required RCI qualification. Subsequent verification raised questions over the eligibility of several candidates.

Bonus Marks Under Scrutiny

Under the recruitment rules, candidates holding an RCI-recognised special education diploma were eligible for an additional 5% bonus in the selection process.

The information provided in the case indicates that around 14,964 candidates claimed the RCI qualification and received the additional marks. However, RCI records reportedly showed that only about 5,271 candidates met the relevant qualification requirement.

The dispute arose because the online application system awarded the bonus marks when candidates selected “yes” against the RCI qualification field. The qualification documents were not verified at that stage.

Court Rejects ‘Mistake’ Argument

Some candidates approached the High Court arguing that they had mistakenly selected “yes” while filling out the application form. They sought removal of the bonus marks but requested that they should continue in the selection process on the basis of their actual examination scores.

The division bench, however, found no grounds to interfere with the earlier order. The court noted that candidates had been given opportunities to correct information submitted in their applications.

According to the court's reasoning as reported in the case, a candidate cannot seek to retain a benefit obtained from incorrect information after the result has been declared, particularly when opportunities had been available to rectify the information earlier.

Verification of RCI Certificates

Following the High Court's decision, the Employees Selection Board will have to undertake verification of the RCI certificates claimed by candidates who received the bonus marks.

Candidates whose claims are found to be unsupported by valid RCI-recognised qualifications will face cancellation of their applications or removal of the corresponding benefit, as directed under the recruitment process.

The verification exercise is expected to have a direct impact on the existing selection list because the removal of bonus marks can change candidates' relative positions in the merit order.

Fresh Merit List Expected

The earlier single-bench order had directed the selection authority to provide candidates claiming RCI eligibility an additional opportunity to submit the relevant qualification documents. After verification, candidates who fail to establish the required qualification are to be excluded from the applicable benefit.

A revised merit list will subsequently be prepared.

The process could therefore affect the appointments already linked to the 2025 primary teacher recruitment examination, particularly where candidates' positions depended on the disputed bonus marks.

Impact on Other Candidates

The High Court also considered the impact of retaining wrongly awarded bonus marks on candidates who had correctly provided their qualifications.

If candidates who were not eligible for the additional marks were allowed to retain them, it could adversely affect the ranking of candidates who had followed the rules while submitting their applications.

The court consequently declined to grant relief that would allow disputed bonus marks to remain part of the selection process.

Recruitment Process to Be Reworked

With the appeals dismissed, the recruitment authorities will now proceed with the next stage of verification and merit revision.

The broad process will involve checking RCI qualification documents, identifying candidates who do not meet the eligibility requirements, removing the disputed bonus benefit and preparing a revised merit list. Further appointments will then be processed according to the revised ranking and applicable recruitment rules.

The High Court's decision brings the immediate legal challenge to the disputed bonus-mark provision to an end, while leaving the selection authority with the task of completing the verification and fresh merit exercise.