1. Heard Sri M. Surender Rao, Senior Counsel for Srinivas Rao Madiraju in W.P.Nos.18834 of 2017 and 21886 of 2017; Ms. B. Rachna Reddy learned counsel for petitioners in W.P.Nos.18929 of 2017 and 23173 of 2017; Sri G. Vidya Sagar, Senior counsel for Smt. K. Udaya Sri for respondents 3 to 12, 14 to 16, 18 to 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 to 32, 34 to 36, 38 to 40 in W.P.No.18834 of 2017; Sri Vedula Srinivas learned counsel for respondents 41, 43 to 47, 49 to 60 in W.P.No.18834 of 2017; Sri V. Ravichandran learned counsel for respondents 13, 17, 22, 24, 26, 28, 33, 37, 42, 48, 62, 70 and 76 in WP No.18834 of 2017; Dr. P.B. Vijay Kumar, learned counsel for respondents 61, 63 to 69, 71 to 75 and 77 to 256 in W.P.No.18834 of 2017. For convenience, broadly pleadings as averred in affidavit filed in support of W.P.No.21886 of 2017 are taken.

2. Telangana State Public Service Commission issued recruitment notification No.20 of 2015 dated 30.12.2015 calling for applications to conduct selections for recruitment to the posts in State Government Service classified as Group-Il services. Five categories of posts were notified. Supplementary notification No.17 of 2016 was issued on 01.09.2016 including 13 categories. Total number of posts notified were 1032. As per the notification, selection is based on performance in the written examination and oral interview. Written examination was divided into four papers, paper - I, II, III and IV. Each paper carries 150 marks. Interview shall carry 75 marks. Paper-I dealt with general studies and general abilities. Paper-II dealt with history, polity and sociology. Paper-III dealt with economics and development and paper-IV dealt with Telangana movement and state formation. Written examination is objective type. The candidates are required to choose an answer from out of the four options given against each of the questions. The personal particulars and the answers to questions are to be made on Optical Machine Reader (OMR) sheet furnished to the candidates in the examination centres. The OMR sheet is divided into three parts. Part - ‘A’ contains personal details, such as Hall ticket number, paper code, examination centre code, booklet series number, etc,. Against personal particulars under various headings boxes are provided where candidates are required to write their particulars. Under these square boxes bubbles are provided where candidates have to darken relevant bubbles. Part-’B’ contains serial numbers of the questions and there are four bubbles against each question. Candidates are required to darken the bubble reflecting his choice of answer from out of four options given to him. Only one has to be darkened. In Part-‘C’, candidate has to write his name and put his signature. There is a separate box where invigilator is required to sign. The OMR sheet is fed into machine to ascertain the personal particulars and to evaluate answers furnished by the candidates.

3. The written examinations were held on 11.11.2016 and 13.11.2016. On each day, exam was conducted for 2 papers. In all 4,98,448 candidates appeared in the examinations. As per the procedure evolved, based on the performance, candidates are short listed in the ratio of 1:3 for verification of eligibility and the relevant certificates. On completing the said verification, the candidates are short listed to conduct interviews. Based on the performance in the written examination and interview the final merit list will be drawn. On 01.12.2016 preliminary key of answers was published, and objections were invited. It appears, PSC has received several objections. After taking opinion from experts, on 10.01.2017 final key was published. The notification indicated that there would no further consideration of objections on the final key. However, PSC entertained further objections and published revised final key by notification dated 13.04.2017. It appears, there is variation in the answers chosen by the PSC in the preliminary key, in the final key