Delhi High Court Allows Candidates to Challenge Judicial Service Exam Questions Without Prior Objection

In a recent ruling, the Delhi High Court affirmed that candidates can challenge the correctness of questions in the Delhi Judicial Services Exams (DJS Exams) even without having objected earlier [Shruti Katiyar vs Registrar General, Delhi High Court].

A division bench comprising Justices Rajiv Shakdher and Amit Bansal emphasized that objections raised by any candidate hold significance universally.

The Court stated, “The objections, in a sense, attain universality, once taken by any candidate. The purpose of allowing candidates to lodge objections is salutary as it allows the respondent [Delhi High Court] to take corrective measures in the larger interest of candidates and move away from a possible unfair result.”

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Rejecting a preliminary objection by the High Court’s counsel against the maintainability of Shruti Katiyar’s plea regarding the correctness of a question in the DJS Preliminary Exams 2023, the Court highlighted that other candidates had previously raised objections to the same question.

Advocate Dr. Amit George, representing the High Court, argued that Katiyar lacked standing to seek relief as she had not raised objections earlier. However, the Court reasoned that relief granted to any candidate would generally benefit all candidates.

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Ultimately, the Court ruled in favor of Katiyar, directing the High Court to award her marks for the challenged question.

Petitioner Shruti Katiyar was represented by Advocates Harsh Tikoo, Manish Kashyap, and Prabhakar Roy.

The High Court was represented by Advocates Dr. Amit George, Arkaneil Bhaumik, Rayadurgam Bharat, Adhishwar Suri, and Shashwat Kabi.