IMPHAL, Oct 28: The Manipur High Court has served notices to 125 candidates who passed the Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination (MCSCCE) 2016, which was reconducted in 2022. This action stems from a writ petition filed by Yumlembam Surjit Singh and five others, questioning the exam’s integrity and processes.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu Kabui has directed the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) and the State of Manipur to address the allegations made by the petitioners.
The petitioners, represented by Advocate Keisham Kishan Singh, originally approached the Supreme Court in 2019, seeking to annul the reconducted exam due to alleged irregularities. The Supreme Court advised them to file a new petition in the Manipur High Court, which they did in May 2023.
In their petition, the group contends that the MPSC exam guidelines are defective and unsuitable for selecting candidates for critical administrative positions. They argue that the examination process was incomplete, lacking essential roles such as a head examiner, additional examiners, and question moderators, which they claim undermines the exam’s fairness.
The petition highlights several concerns regarding the evaluation of answer booklets, including the absence of supervisors’ signatures and improper question-setting procedures. Additionally, it points out the lack of standardized grading rules and missing instructions for marking the end of each answer, which could hinder clarity during evaluation.
Following arguments from both sides, the High Court has ordered notices to be issued to the 125 successful candidates. The petitioners are also requesting that the exam be reconducted with improved and updated guidelines to ensure a fair selection process.
