HC directs UPSC to reveal marks to candidates

New Delhi, Apr 17: The Delhi High Court today directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to reveal the marks and cut-off points in various subjects to the candidates who appeared at the civil services examinations.

''In any event, the public interest in disclosure is overwhelming and I am of the view that the Central Information Commission(CIC) has approached the matter in the correct perspective and has issued the directions for disclosure of the information,'' Justice B D Ahmed said.

The marks, which had been obtained by the candidates who appeared in the Civil Services(Preliminary) Examinations, are not to be counted for the final selection which would be based entirely on the Main Examination and the interview to follow, the court noted while dismissing the petition of the UPSC.

''Therefore I see no harm in the disclosure of the marks, as directed by the CIC,'' said the Judge.

''As regards to the disclosure of the scaling system, it is apparent that the same already stands disclosed in an affidavit by the commission,'' the court said.

The Court rejected the contention of the UPSC by saying that it was unfathomable that the coaching institutes would be able to undermine the system of examination by disclosure of the cut-off mark of the previous year and the actual marks of the candidates of the previous years.

The UPSC had filed a petition in the High Court challenging Central Information Commission(CIC)'s November 13, 2006 order to disclose within two weeks the marks of the candidates.

In an order on November 27, 2006, the high court had stayed the execution of the CIC order.

A full-bench of the CIC, headed by Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, had passed the order on separate applications filed by over 100 unsuccessful candidates seeking disclosure of the marks obtained by them in the preliminary examination, 2006.

The CIC had asked the UPSC to reveal the cut-off marks in optional papers of the short-listed candidates, who made it to the mains examination and the scaling system.

UNI