Disposing of a batch of writ petitions that had challenged the quantum of reservation of posts for various cadres of the Odisha Civil Services examinations of 2011, the Odisha High Court on Friday refused to interfere in it.
The court, however, directed the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to come out with a fresh advertisement relaxing the age limit of the candidates as the examinations are now scheduled to be held after a gap of seven years. Delivering its judgement that was kept reserved, a Division Bench of Justices MM Das and AK Rath said the quantum of reservation fixed by the State Government is made in accordance with its Constitutional obligations and the court is not inclined to interfere in the same.
It may be noted that following an Odisha Public Service Commission advertisement to recruit suitable candidates for several posts, including OAS officers, several petitions were filed in the High Court challenging the quantum of reservations of seats which have far exceeded the 50-per cent limit. Disposing of all the petitions, the High Court directed the Odisha Public Service Commission to issue a fresh advertisement declaring age relaxation for aspirants as the examinations are being held after a gap of seven long years. The OCS examinations were last held in the year 2006 and entire selection process had ended in 2010.
Slapping an interim stay earlier, the High Court had asked the Odisha Public Service Commission not to conduct the viva voce test of the OCS examinations-2011 without the leave of the court. The Odisha Public Service Commission was, however, permitted to go ahead with the scrutiny of applications, to hold the preliminary examinations and the written test of the main examination. But before holding the viva voce test, the Odisha Public Service Commission was asked to take permission from the High Court. The December 2011 advertisement was made for recruitment for some 494 posts in different categories and cadres. More than 66 per cent of these posts are earmarked for reserved category candidates, including 27 per cent for SEBC candidates.