APPSC to revise merit list for drug inspectors

Delivering yet another blow to the AP Public Service Commission, the AP Administrative Tribunal found fault with the method it adopted in conducting the written test for recruitment of drug inspectors and directed the commission to modify the merit list after properly dealing with four disputed questions. 

After several complaints by the applicants about the way the questions were framed by the commission, the latter made certain corrections which too were found to be faulty.

Aggrieved by the question paper anomalies, V Raja Ravi Kiran and several other aspirants approached the tribunal challenging the shoddy manner in which the recruitment process for more than 50 drug inspectors was conducted. The judge, after verifying the four disputed questions, declared that the authorities had erred in cancelling two questions. In respect of the other two, the judge held that the authorities should have cancelled one and awarded marks to the candidates who marked both the options to the last question as they were correct. All those who opted for any of these two options should be awarded marks, he said.

According to Jonnalagadda Sudheer, the counsel for the petitioners, each question carries two marks and correct answers to four questions would amount to 8 marks which can make a big difference in a highly competitive examination. The commission has to now recast the merit list in tune with the settlement accorded by the tribunal which is expected to greatly alter the selection process. Ironically, the commission has already completed the process and the selected candidates have already joined their duties. This in all likelihood will herald a new phase of litigation.

Source: Times of India