Hyderabad, September 24, 2025: In a major relief for thousands of hopefuls, the Telangana High Court has put on hold the previous order that had asked the Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC) to re-examine the answer sheets of the Group-1 Mains test. The temporary relief gives the TGPSC the freedom to go ahead with the appointment process of the 563 shortlisted candidates, although the ultimate result hangs in balance.
Background of the Dispute
It all started when the Group-1 Mains examination results, conducted by the TGPSC in late 2024, were released in March 2025. Some candidates complained of irregularities in the marking process, including grading by non-subject experts and a disputed moderation approach. This led to a petition being moved in the Telangana High Court for cancellation of the results and a re-grading of the answer scripts.
On September 9, 2025, a single judge bench headed by Justice Namavarapu Rajeshwara Rao held in favor of the petitioners, staying the final marks list and the general ranking list. The court instructed the TGPSC to re-mark all answer scripts manually through a moderation technique in accordance with Supreme Court norms. The commission was instructed to finish the process of re-evaluation within eight months; otherwise, the examination would be cancelled, and the re-examination would be held for all the candidates who had cleared the preliminary examination.
Interim Relief of High Court
The TGPSC, along with some of the shortlisted candidates, challenged the single-judge order, stating that the instructions were legally defective and would jeopardize the recruitment procedure. They argued that there was no proof of large-scale malpractice and that the commission had strictly adhered to set procedures.
On September 24, 2025, the division bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin heard the appeals and passed an interim order staying the single-judge’s directions. The bench permitted the TGPSC to go ahead with sending appointment orders to the selected candidates, making it clear that the appointments would be subject to the final result of the appeals. The court also instructed both sides to submit detailed written submissions by October 10, 2025, and the subsequent hearing was fixed for October 15, 2025.
The Indian Express
Implications for Candidates and the Recruitment Process
The interim relief has provided stop-gap relief to the 563 candidates selected based on the Group-1 Mains exam. However, their provisional appointments providing the stop-gap relief mean that the uncertainty over the eventual outcome continues. The hearings to come will be pivotal in determining if the process of re-evaluation will go ahead or a new exam will be compelled.
For the TGPSC, the judgment serves to remind the importance of remaining bound by set evaluation protocols and guaranteeing openness in the selection process. The commission’s capacity to overcome the judicial hurdles will be determinate in upholding the sanctity of the selection process and the confidence of the people in its functioning.
Conclusion
The interim order of the Telangana High Court has stayed the re-totalling of the Group-1 Mains examination results on a temporary basis, paving the way for the TGPSC to go ahead with the process of appointment of the selected candidates. Even this gives temporary relief, as the ultimate decision on the case will hinge on the pending hearings and the court’s determination of the legal and procedural issues involved. All stakeholders, including the TGPSC, candidates, and the public, await a fair and just resolution to ensure the credibility of the recruitment process.
