JUDGMENT :

NAMIT KUMAR, J.

1. This judgment shall dispose of above-referred writ petitions as similar questions of facts and law are involved in them. For the sake of convenience, the facts are being taken from CWP-1950- 2026 titled as Karanbeer Singh and others v. State of Punjab and others. 2. The instant petition has been filed by the petitioners under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for claiming the following reliefs:-

“A. Writ of Certiorari against the Revised Answer Keys dated 06.01.2026 (Annexures P-11 & P-12) to the extent that vague Questions were not deleted (Question No. 26 of Paper-II (CSAT) & Questions No. 13, 73, 94, 99 of Paper- 1 (General Studies)) and that patently incorrect Answers were not revised (Questions No. 1, 79 of Paper-I (General Studies)).

B. Writ of Certiorari against the Result announced vide Public Notice dated 09.01.2026 (Annexure P-14) to the extent that the Petitioners' names were not shortlisted for the Main Examination Stage.

C. Writ of Mandamus directing that the Answer Keys dated 06.01.2026 (Annexures P-11 & P-12) & the Result announced vide Public Notice dated 09.01.2026 (Annexure P-14) be revised in terms of Para No. 8 of the present Writ Petition.

xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx”

3. The brief facts of the case, as have been pleaded in the present petition, are that respondent No.3-Punjab Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as 'Commission') advertised 322 posts of Punjab Civil Services (Executive Branch) and other allied posts (later on increased to 337 posts, vide addendum dated 03.09.2025) to be filled on the basis of Punjab State Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination, 2025, vide advertisement No.20251 dated 02.01.2025 (Annexure P-1). The petitioners applied pursuant to the said advertisement and appeared in the preliminary examination conducted on 07.12.2025. The revised answer keys were released on 06.01.2026, on the basis of which candidates were short- listed for the main examination on 09.01.2026; however, none of the petitioners were short-listed for the main examination. It has further been pleaded that the petitioners fell short of their respective cut-offs by only 02 marks, i.e., one question. It has further been pleaded that both Paper-I (General Studies) and Paper-II (CSAT) were conducted as MCQ-based tests on 07.12.2025. On 08.12.2025, the Commission released the answer keys, and issued a public notice inviting objections on the same from the candidates. The candidates were given 04 days' time to submit their objections by uploading the same on the official website of the Commission. The petitioners submitted their objections, along with requisite supporting material, within the prescribed time. The petitioners submitted their objections against Questions No.1, 13, 73, 79, 94 and 99 in the following manner:-

4. Thereafter, on 06.01.2026, the Commission released the following revised answer keys:-

“Paper-I (General Studies) 5 Questions were revised—4 Questions were deleted (Question No.25, 65, 80, 95) and the Answer to 1 Question was changed (Question No.41).

8 Grace marks were given for the 4 Deleted Questions.

Paper-II (CSAT) 5 Questions were revised—4 Questions were deleted (Question No.8, 32, 77, 80) and the Answer to 1 Question was changed in which two Answers were marked as correct (Question No.26).

10 Grace marks were given for the 4 Deleted Questions.”

5. On the basis of the revised answer keys, the cut-offs were announced on 09.01.2026 and the result was announced on 10.01.2026, however, none of the petitioners were short-listed for the main examination and all of them were short of their respective cut-offs by only 02 marks i.e. 01 question and the marks scored by the petitioners are as under:-

6. On issuance of notice of motion, the Commission has filed short reply by way of affidavit of Vyom Bharadvaj, PCS, Secretary Examinations, Punjab Public Service Commission, Patiala, Punjab, on behalf of respondent No.3, wherein the following stand has been taken:-