Authority: High Court of Manipur at Imphal

Order Date: 21 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioners: Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) represented by the Secretary, North A.O.C.
  • Respondents: Manipur Information Commission (MIC) represented by the Chief Information Commissioner, and three private RTI applicants – Begum Khaleda Bogie, Kh. Robindro Singh, and Nawaj Sharif.
  • The RTI applicants sought certified copies of their evaluated answer sheets and related marks for the Manipur Civil Service Combined Competitive Examination 2016 (conducted in 2022).
  • MPSC, relying on policy decisions dated 28 Oct 2020 and 4 May 2020 and Supreme Court judgments (Angesh Kumar), denied furnishing evaluated answer scripts, offering only marks.
  • MIC, considering past practices (MPSC’s 2013 Assistant Engineer exam, High Court of Manipur’s Judicial Services exam), the pendency of a writ petition challenging MPSC’s policy, and the need for transparency, directed MPSC to allow the applicants to inspect their evaluated answer scripts within four weeks.
  • MPSC filed three writ petitions (WP(C) Nos. 474‑476 of 2023) challenging MIC’s order.

Final Outcome

  • The High Court dismissed all three writ petitions, holding that the policy not to furnish evaluated answer scripts does not bar candidates from inspecting them.
  • The Court applied the Supreme Court’s Mradul Mishra decision, finding the Angesh Kumar precedent inapplicable to the present facts.
  • MPSC was ordered to comply with MIC’s inspection direction within 30 days of receipt of this order and to bear its own costs.
  • The Registry was directed to send a copy of the order to the Secretary, MPSC for compliance.

Topics: RTI Inspection, Public Service Commission Policy, Judicial Review