Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2026 Supreme(Online)(P&H) 8529

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
Namit Kumar, J
Harshdeep Singh – Appellant
Versus
State of Punjab – Respondent
CWP-8596 of 2026

Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Shubham Bhardwaj
For the Respondents: Anu Chatrath, Charanpreet Singh

Judicial review of competitive examination answer keys requires restraint; Courts will not substitute their opinions for those of expert bodies unless a glaring error is demonstrated, and meritless petitions filed with inordinate delay after the initial results are declared are not entitled to extraordinary discretionary relief.

Headnote:(A) Constitution of India - Art. 226 and 227 - Judicial review of competitive examination - Answer keys - Judicial restraint - Petitioner challenged shortlisting process and correctness of answer keys after inordinate delay - Held, Courts should exercise great restraint in interfering with answer keys provided by Expert Committees - No malafides alleged against experts - Interference denied. (Paras 8, 9, 14, 15)

(B) Recruitment Rules - Combined Competitive Examination - Shortlisting of candidates - Petitioner sought separate shortlisting for DSP posts based on age limit - Court rejected distinction between posts as not supported by Statutory Rules. (Paras 11, 12, 13)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner appeared in a combined competitive examination for various civil service posts. He challenged the common shortlisting criteria for all posts, arguing that posts with different age limits (e.g., DSP) should be shortlisted separately. He also challenged the correctness of answers to five questions after the result was declared, despite failing to submit objections within the specified window.

Findings of Court:
The Court found no merit in the contention for separate shortlisting, noting it is not supported by statutory rules. It further held that the petitioner approached the Court at a very belated stage, and that it would not interfere with the expert-reviewed answer keys following settled legal principles barring interference in academic matters without proof of glaring error or manifest illegality.

Issues: Whether the Court should direct separate shortlisting for specific posts with lower age limits and whether it should interfere with the final answer key after the result is declared.

Ratio Decidendi: In the absence of statutory provisions requiring department-wise shortlisting, the combined competitive process is valid. Furthermore, judicial review of answer keys is restricted; the Court will not substitute its view for that of experts unless a mistake is glaring and apparent, and an inordinate delay in challenging results during an ongoing recruitment process militates against the exercise of writ jurisdiction.

Result: Petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. nature of preliminary examination and procedural challenge. (Para 1 , 1 , 2)
2. respondent's justification for combined examination and selection methodology. (Para 3 , 4 , 5)
3. judicial restraint in re-evaluating expert-conducted answer keys. (Para 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10)
4. invalidity of splitting examinations based on age-related post distinctions. (Para 11 , 12 , 13)
5. effect of inordinate delay in challenging recruitment processes. (Para 14 , 15 , 16)

1. The instant petition has been filed by the petitioner under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, for claiming the following reliefs:-

“A. Writ of mandamus declaring the action of respondent No.3 in short-listing the candidates combinly for the posts of DSP and DSP (Jail) along with other posts notified in the advertisement dated 03.09.2025 (Annexure P-2) being illegal and unreasonable and consequently to direct respondent No.3 to take the step to shortlist the candidates for the aforesaid vacancies of DSP and DSP (Jail) separately from other posts notified.

B. Writ of certiorari by quashing the result dated 12.02.2026 (Annexure P-4) of preliminary examination vide which the candidates were shortlisted provisionally for appearing in main examination.

C. To stay the main examination for the aforesaid posts during the pendency of the writ petition.

D. Writ of Certiorari against the Revised Answer Key dated 06.01.2026 (Annexure P-6) to the extent it pertains to Question Nos.14, 21, 61, 93 and 99 of Question Booklet Set-D (General Studies) of the Punjab State Civil Services Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination-2025.

E. Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to correct the answers to Question Nos.14, 21, 61, 93 and 99 in accordance with authoritative academic and institutional sources and to re-evaluate the petitioner’s OMR response sheet accordingly.

F. To direct the respondents to revise the petitioner’s marks, and if found eligible on such re-evaluation, declare the petitioner qualified in the Preliminary Examination and permit him to participate in the subsequent stages of the selection process pursuant to Advertisement No.20251 dated 03.09.2025 (Annexure P-2).

G. To give opportunity to the petitioner to appear in the main examination after shortlisting candidates only who are below the age of 28 years for the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police or in the alternative permit the petitioner to appear in the PSCSCCE Main Examination 2025 provisionally subject to the final outcome of this writ petition.

xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx”

2. 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-2). The petitioner applied pursuant to the said advertisement under the general category and appeared in the preliminary examination conducted on 07.12.2025. The result of the preliminary examination has been declared by respondent No.3 on 10.01.2026 with cut off marks for each category i.e. 100 marks. The main examination has been scheduled from 01.04.2026 to 10.04.2026. Candidates equal to 12 to 13 times of the total vacancies advertised in each category were declared eligible for appearing in the main examination. Respondent No.3 has combined the posts of Deputy Superintendent of Police and Deputy Superintendent (Jails)/District Probation Officer (Grade-II) with other posts despite the fact that maximum age limit for these two posts is 28 years whereas maximum age limit for other posts is 37 years as on 01.01.2025. Petitioner has secured 94 marks in the preliminary examination. Petitioner has moved a repre

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2026 Supreme(Online)(P&H) 8529

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARHNamit Kumar, JHarshdeep Singh – AppellantVersusState of Punjab – RespondentCWP-8596 of 2026

Cases Referred (4)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
Namit Kumar, J
Harshdeep Singh – Appellant
Versus
State of Punjab – Respondent
CWP-8596 of 2026