Legal disputes likely over amended rule of reservation for Group I exam in Telangana

Controversial G.O. on reservations in TGPSC Group 1 exam likely to spark legal disputes.

A Government Order (G.O.) with regard to application of the rule of reservations in the preliminary examination for recruitment to Group 1 services conducted by the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TGPSC) recently could kick up a storm and lead to legal disputes.

The order, issued on February 8, 2024, making amendments to the original order pertaining to Group I notification in April 2022, goes against the spirit of reservations provided to the disadvantaged sections of society, allege several aspirants.

According to both the G.O.s, the number of candidates to be admitted in the Group 1 (Main) examination would be 50 times the total number of vacancies available. It would mean that 50 applicants should be selected from the prelims for each of the 563 posts notified, which would put the total number of candidates to appear for Mains at 28,150.

The amendment inserted in February this year goes on to tweak the application of reservations, saying that in case of shortfall with respect to candidates in reserved categories such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, Physically Handicapped, Economically Weaker Sections and others, action should be taken to include such number of candidates from the merit list beyond 1:50 ratio.

Following the orders, the TGPSC selected a total of 31,382 candidates from the prelims, instead of the 28,150, which would have been the figure as per the application of the 1:50 ratio. This is 3,232 candidates in excess, which are from the reserved categories over and above the stipulated 28,150.

This is disadvantageous to all reserved categories at two levels, applicants contend. “First, the amendment seeks to club meritorious candidates from the disadvantaged sections, too, in the reserved categories. With this, an equal number of candidates from the disadvantaged sections are losing their right of reservation,” said B. Srinivas (name changed to protect identity), an applicant. Secondly, it offers an undue advantage to forward castes, he says.

“If reservations are to be applied, they need to be applied pro rata within the 28,150. By selecting 3,232 candidates from reserved categories outside the merit list to fill the shortfall, the commission is allowing the same number of candidates from non-reserved categories—elite sections of forward castes to be specific—in excess of the 1:50 rule,” he says.