UPSC – Delhi High Court Declines Challenge to 2023 Civil Services Prelims

UPSC – The Delhi High Court has declined to interfere with the results of the 2023 Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, holding that judicial intervention at this stage would serve no practical purpose and could disrupt a nationwide competitive process involving thousands of candidates.

The ruling came while dismissing multiple petitions filed by candidates who were unable to clear the preliminary examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. The applicants had raised objections to Paper II, commonly known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test, alleging that several questions went beyond the notified syllabus.

Court Emphasises Limits of Judicial Review

A Division Bench comprising Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan observed that courts are generally restrained from exercising writ jurisdiction to grant what it described as infructuous reliefs. The judges noted that this principle becomes especially relevant in cases involving large public examinations, where any late-stage intervention could have wide-reaching consequences.

The court underscored that once an examination process has moved forward and subsequent stages have been completed, revisiting earlier steps can undermine administrative certainty and fairness to other candidates.

Petitions Focused on CSAT Questioning

The batch of petitions was filed by unsuccessful aspirants who contended that certain questions in Paper II did not align with the officially prescribed syllabus. According to the petitioners, these questions placed them at an unfair disadvantage and warranted corrective measures, including revision of results.

Paper II of the preliminary examination is qualifying in nature and assesses candidates on comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, and decision-making skills. Candidates are required to secure a minimum qualifying score to remain eligible for evaluation of Paper I.

Expert Committee Review Cited by the Bench

During the proceedings, the court took note of the fact that the Union Public Service Commission had already constituted an expert committee to examine the objections raised by candidates after the examination. The committee, composed of subject specialists, reviewed the disputed questions in detail.

As per the findings placed before the court, the committee concluded that all the questions fell within the scope of the notified syllabus. It further stated that the questions were designed to test mental aptitude and reasoning skills that are reasonably expected from civil services aspirants.

Questions Deemed Conceptually Appropriate

The bench accepted the expert committee’s assessment, observing that competitive examinations are not limited to rote learning. The judges noted that the questions challenged by the petitioners were intended to be thought-provoking and to assess analytical thinking, which is a core requirement for administrative roles.

The court also made it clear that it would not substitute its own interpretation for that of subject experts, particularly when a competent review mechanism had already been applied by the examining authority.

Impact on Selected Candidates Considered

One of the key reasons cited by the High Court for dismissing the petitions was the potential impact on candidates who had already progressed through the examination cycle. The judges stated that granting reliefs such as reworking the merit list or ordering fresh main examinations would cause significant disruption.

Such directions, the court observed, could adversely affect candidates who cleared the preliminary stage in accordance with the existing evaluation process and have since invested time and effort in subsequent stages.

Relief Sought Found Impractical

The bench concluded that the reliefs sought by the petitioners were neither feasible nor justified at this stage of the recruitment process. It reiterated that judicial remedies must remain practical and should not result in administrative chaos or inequity.

With these observations, the court dismissed all the pending petitions, effectively upholding the conduct and evaluation of the 2023 Civil Services Preliminary Examination.