Orissa High Court Orders OPSC to Pay ₹1 Lakh Compensation for Evaluation Error

The Orissa High Court directed the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to pay ₹1 lakh in compensation to Jyotirmayee Dutta for an evaluation lapse in the Odisha Judicial Service (Main) Examination, 2022. Despite confirming that a question in her Law of Property paper was left unevaluated, the reassessment did not provide enough marks for her to qualify. The court emphasized the need for stricter quality control in competitive exam evaluations to ensure fairness and accuracy.

CONTENTS:

• Orissa High Court Orders OPSC to Compensate Aspirant for Evaluation Error
• Orissa High Court Directs OPSC to Pay ₹1 Lakh Compensation for Evaluation Lapse

Orissa High Court Orders OPSC to Pay ₹1 Lakh Compensation for Evaluation Error

Orissa High Court Orders OPSC to Compensate Aspirant for Evaluation Error

Orissa High Court Orders OPSC to Pay ₹1 Lakh Compensation The Orissa High Court has ordered the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to compensate an aspirant with ₹1 lakh for an evaluation error in the Odisha Judicial Service Examination. Jyotirmayee Dutta, who took the exam in September 2023, missed qualifying for the document verification and interview round by five marks.

Upon reviewing her answer sheet, she discovered that one of her responses in the Law of Property paper had been left unevaluated, prompting her to seek legal intervention for re-evaluation. The court assigned experts from three reputed universities in Odisha to reassess her script, confirming the oversight. Although additional marks were awarded, they were still insufficient for her to progress to the next stage.

A division bench of Justices Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Chittaranjan Dash recognized the distress and financial strain she endured during the case, awarding ₹1 lakh as compensation. The OPSC must pay the amount within 60 days of the ruling. The court emphasized the need for stringent quality control in evaluation processes, highlighting the significant impact competitive exams have on candidates’ careers.\

The Orissa High Court has directed the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to pay ₹1 lakh in compensation for procedural lapses that resulted in the non-evaluation of an answer in the Odisha Judicial Service (Main) Examination, 2022.

Jyotirmayee Dutta appeared for the exam, and the results were announced on December 4, 2023. However, she failed to qualify for the next stage by a narrow margin of five marks. On August 27, 2024, she filed a petition alleging that a question in the ‘Law of Property’ paper had not been evaluated, which affected her overall score. She claimed that a proper assessment of her answers would have enabled her to qualify.

In response, the high court ordered an independent evaluation of her answer sheet by experts from three reputed universities. The review confirmed that one of her responses had been overlooked, and marks were subsequently awarded. However, despite the correction, her total score remained insufficient for qualification.

A division bench comprising Justices Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Chittaranjan Dash dismissed the petition but acknowledged the mental distress and financial burden Dutta faced in pursuing the case. “Although the petitioner did not secure the relief she sought, her efforts have brought attention to a critical procedural flaw,” the court stated. As a result, the bench deemed it appropriate to grant ₹1 lakh in compensation, which OPSC must pay within 60 days of the judgment.

The court emphasized the need for rigorous quality control in the evaluation process, highlighting that competitive exams shape the careers of millions. “Ensuring fairness and accuracy in such exams is non-negotiable,” the bench remarked, urging OPSC to adopt stricter scrutiny measures to prevent such lapses in the future.

Orissa High Court Directs OPSC to Pay ₹1 Lakh Compensation for Evaluation Lapse

Orissa High Court Orders OPSC to Pay ₹1 Lakh Compensation The Orissa High Court has directed the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to compensate a candidate with ₹1 lakh for procedural lapses that led to the non-evaluation of an answer in the Odisha Judicial Service (Main) Examination, 2022.

Jyotirmayee Dutta, who appeared for the exam, was unable to qualify for the next stage after the results were announced on December 4, 2023, missing the cutoff by five marks. On August 27, 2024, she filed a petition claiming that a question in the ‘Law of Property’ paper had not been evaluated, affecting her final score. She argued that a proper assessment of her answer sheet would have allowed her to progress further in the selection process.

Responding to her plea, the high court ordered an independent evaluation of her answer script by experts from three reputed universities. The review confirmed that one of her responses had been overlooked, and marks were subsequently awarded. However, even with the additional marks, her total score remained below the qualifying threshold.

A division bench comprising Justices Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Chittaranjan Dash dismissed her petition but acknowledged the distress and financial burden she endured while pursuing the case. “Although the petitioner did not obtain the relief she sought, her efforts have exposed a significant procedural flaw,” the court stated. Consequently, the bench ruled that she should receive ₹1 lakh in compensation, to be paid by OPSC within 60 days of the judgment.

The court further emphasized the importance of rigorous quality control in examination evaluations, stating that competitive exams are pivotal in shaping careers. “Fairness and accuracy in such assessments are non-negotiable,” the bench observed, urging OPSC to adopt stricter scrutiny measures to prevent similar lapses in the future.