Authority: High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad

Order Date: 29 July 2025

Case Overview

  • Petitioners (unnamed aspirants for Class‑I posts) filed special civil applications (Nos. 10075‑10144, 10309‑10344, etc.) challenging the cancellation/revision of 18.5 % questions in the GPSC preliminary examination and their consequent disqualification.
  • Respondents are the State of Gujarat and the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC), represented by Assistant Government Pleader Mr. Aditya Pathak and Advocate Mr. Premal R. Joshi.
  • The main GPSC examination for Class‑I posts is scheduled from 20 September 2025 to 28 September 2025, with the last date for application submission being 31 July 2025.
  • Petitioners sought an interim order permitting them to file application forms for the main examination, arguing that without such relief they would be prejudiced in preparing for the exam.

Court’s Observations

  • The Court noted that denying interim relief would prejudice the petitioners, who need certainty to prepare for the main examination.
  • It observed that the GPSC itself had cancelled/revised 18.5 % of the preliminary questions and that petitioners were challenging even more questions, including suo motu cancellations.
  • The Court considered that allowing petitioners to appear in the main examination would not prejudice the GPSC, provided appropriate safeguards are put in place.

Directions

1. All petitioners are permitted to file their application forms for appearing in the main examination scheduled 20‑28 September 2025. The application deadline remains 31 July 2025.

2. GPSC shall process the applications without reference to the petitioners’ disqualification status in the preliminary examination and shall take steps to ensure their participation in the main examination.

3. Appearance in the main examination shall not create any equity in favour of the petitioners; the results for the petitioners shall be kept in a sealed cover to be opened after further directions from the Court.

4. The matter is listed for 7 August 2025, by which date GPSC must file its reply to the petitions.

Final Outcome

The Court granted interim relief allowing petitioners to apply for and appear in the main GPSC Class‑I examination while keeping their results sealed, and directed GPSC to respond by 7 August 2025.

Topics: Public Service Recruitment, Judicial Interim Relief