OPSC ASO Recruitment: Orissa High Court Upholds Order to Publish Fresh Merit List

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has dismissed review and writ petitions related to alleged irregularities in the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) recruitment examination. The court upheld its earlier order to publish a fresh merit list.

The controversy stemmed from the introduction of a ‘qualification mark rule’ by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) during the merit list determination. Candidates complained that the rule was not mentioned in the initial advertisement and was introduced after the written exams.

The crux of the controversy revolves around the ‘qualification mark rule,’ which requires candidates to achieve a minimum score, known as the sectional cut-off, in each subject. This rule was allegedly introduced by the OPSC after the completion of the written exams and was not initially disclosed in the advertisement.

By adhering to the court’s decision, the OPSC will now have to reevaluate the candidates’ performances based on the newly defined criteria and publish a fresh merit list accordingly. This move aims to address the concerns raised by applicants and ensure a fair and transparent selection process for the Assistant Section Officer positions.