Orissa High Court Considers Special Exam for Cyclone-Affected Candidates

Court's Directive to Odisha Government and OPSC

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has instructed the Odisha government and the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to investigate the possibility of conducting a special examination for candidates who were genuinely unable to attend the Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Main Examination, 2025, due to the cyclone and subsequent flooding in southern Odisha, despite their willingness and eligibility to participate.

A Division Bench comprising Justice S.K. Panigrahi and Justice Murahari Raman reviewed a petition submitted by Rashmi Narayan Patnaik and requested comprehensive reports from both the State and OPSC to determine the extent of disruption and the number of candidates impacted by the natural disaster.

The Bench noted that those who missed a competitive exam due to an extraordinary natural disaster should not be treated the same as individuals who were absent for personal reasons or lack of preparation. It emphasized the necessity of establishing the complete factual situation before any relief can be considered.

The court has mandated the Chief Secretary to submit an affidavit outlining the districts affected by the cyclone and floods, the duration of the disruption, the impact on transportation services, and whether any areas were officially recognized as calamity-affected. Reports from district Collectors regarding disruptions to public movement have also been requested.

The OPSC Secretary is required to provide information on the total number of candidates who received admit cards, attendance and absentee statistics categorized by examination center and date, as well as the number of candidates from the impacted districts, particularly those who had chosen examination centers in Brahmapur and Jayapur but were unable to attend.

Additionally, the Commission must reveal if it received any representations from candidates regarding the natural disaster, the actions taken in response to such requests, and whether rescheduling the examination or any specific paper was contemplated. Information regarding the recruitment timeline, including evaluation, result declaration, and personality tests, has also been requested.

The Bench further inquired how authorities would identify and verify candidates who were genuinely hindered by the calamity, the implications of a special examination for those who have already taken the test, the potential need for normalization, and the impact on the recruitment schedule.

Affidavits are to be submitted by November 6, when the case will be reviewed again.