RAVINDRA v. GHUGE & Y. G. KHOBRAGADE, JJ. DATE
Facts
*1* 911wp2224o23IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAYBENCH AT AURANGABADWRIT PETITION NO.2224 OF 2023Manoj s/o. Prabhakarrao Samag,Age : 43 years, Occ : Senior Clerkin the Court of CJJD, Ghansawangi,Dist.Jalna....PETITIONER-VERSUS-1.The State of Maharashtra.Through the Principal Secretary,Finance Department, Mantralaya,Mumbai-32.2.The Maharashtra Public ServiceCommission, Seven and Eighth Floor,Kuprej Telephone Nigam Building,Maharshi Karve Road, Mumbai-21.3.The Director of Accounts and Treasuries,5th Floor, New Administrative Building,Opposite Mantralaya, Mumbai-32....RESPONDENTS…Shri Balbhim R. Kedar, Advocate for the Petitioner.Shri P.K. Lakhotiya, AGP for Respondents 1 and 3/State.Shri Mukul Kulkarni, Advocate for Respondent 2/MPSC.... CORAM : RAVINDRA V. GHUGE & Y. G. KHOBRAGADE, JJ. DATE :- 31st January, 2024 *2* 911wp2224o23ORAL JUDGMENT ( Per Ravindra V. Ghuge, J. ):- 1.Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith and heardfinally by the consent of the parties.2.The Petitioner has put forth prayer clause B asunder:-“B)By issuing writ of certiorari or any otherappropriate writ, the impugned judgment andorder dated 17/11/2022, passed by the Ld.Division Bench of Maharashtra AdministrativeTribunal in O.A.NO.215/2020 and M.A. No.49/2021 thereby dismissing the OriginalApplication and Misc. Application may kindlybe quashed and set aside and by allowing thewrit petition, the respondents may kindly bedirected to add 2 more marks in the 5th paperfor question No.4 (b) of the petitioner and bygranting grace marks to him for which he isentitled for, his name to be included in the listof successful candidates of M.F.A.S.Departmental Examination part-II, by givinghim consequential service benefits includingthe seniority in the cadre, by treating his date ofpassing as on 19.10.2019.”3.The Petitioner is aggrieved by the judgment andorder delivered by the learned Maharashtra AdministrativeTribunal, dated 17.11.2022 by which, Original ApplicationNo.215/2020 was dismissed.4.The case of the Petitioner can be compartmentalizedinto three parts:- *3* 911wp2224o23(A)Challenge to “No Revaluation” rule.(B)Students be permitted to attempt more questionsthan the restricted limit and the best answers be taken intoaccount.(C)The examiner has wrongly denied one mark to thePetitioner when the Petitioner believes that he had answeredcorrectly.(A) Challenge to ‘No Revaluation’ Rule5.The Petitioner had appeared for the 2018examination by which, he was aspiring to be selected as anAssistant Accounts Officer in the Finance Ministry of the State ofMaharashtra. This was a departmental examination. The clerksworking in the District Courts, who had completed five years ofservice on the cut off date July, 2013, were eligible to appear forsuch examination, which was conducted in two parts. The firstpart of the examination was conducted in 2015 and the secondpart was conducted in 2018. Though the Petitioner has fourattempts, the age limit of 40 years would prevent the Petitionerfrom taking any further attempt even if he had attempted lessertimes. *4* 911wp2224o236.The first part of the examination has beensuccessfully cleared by the Petitioner. In the second part, for thesubject “Paper on Precis and Draft (without books)”, which waspaper No.V, he has fallen short by one mark to score 40 marksand he would have been eligible for grace marks of five forwhich he would have obtained qualifying 45 marks. Preciswriting is a summary that condenses a passage into a few wordsas possible. The word “Precis” comes from the French word“Preisi”, which means “cut short”.7.As regards the first, the Maharashtra Public ServiceCommission (MPSC) has published the Maharashtra PublicService Commission Rules of Procedure, 2014, which came intoforce on 16.05.2014. Under Rule 11(2), it has been provided asunder:-“11(2) For conventional examination, the candidatesshall have the right to apply to the Commissionfor verification of their answer books. Theaction of verification shall be limited to:-(a) ascertaining that every answer is assessed;(b) totalling of all the marks.Thus there shall be no revaluation ofanswer books whatsoever:Provided further that theapplicant/candidate shall be required to submithis application within a stipulated period oftime and with the prescribed fees as laid downeither in the Notification or in the Scheme of
Legal Reasoning
*5* 911wp2224o23the examination as the case may be.”Rule 12 provides as under:-“12. Method of Moderation:-To ensure fair and equitable assessmentof the Answer Books, the Commission mayresort to moderation of the evaluated answerbooks in respect of all the conventionalexaminations. The modalities in whichmoderation is to be done have been spelt out bythe Commission in its Standing Orders. TheCommission may suitably modify any one theabove orders based on the experience gained bythem.”8.It is, thus, clear that the candidates have a right toapply to the MPSC for verification of their answer books andsuch verification is limited to ascertaining whether, every answeris assessed and the totaling of marks is correct. It is specificallyprovided that there would be no revaluation of answer bookswhatsoever.9.Having read Rule 11(2), more specifically the clauseproviding revaluation of answer books, we find that the saidRule cannot be faulted in view of Rule 12, which provides formethod of moderation. In order to ensure a fair and equitableassessment of the answer books, the MPSC may resort tomoderation of the evaluated answer books in respect of all the *6* 911wp2224o23conventional examinations. The modalities in which moderationis to be done have been spelt out by the MPSC in it’s StandingOrders.10.The relevant Standing Order reads as under:-“१. नि(cid:3)यम(cid:3): नि(cid:6)नि(cid:6)ध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्यास्पध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)(cid:11)परीक्ष(cid:10)ंच्य(cid:10)प(cid:10)रंप(cid:10)रिरक स्वरुपाच्यास्(cid:6)रुप(cid:10)च्य(cid:10) उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)नि(cid:3)यम(cid:3)क स्वरुपाच्यारण्य(cid:10)चीपध्द(cid:24)ख(cid:10)लीलप्रम(cid:10)णे राहीलर(cid:10)हील.अ) (i) उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)परीक्षक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंक स्वरुपाच्याडू(cid:3)(cid:24)प(cid:10)सू(cid:3)झ(cid:10)ल्य(cid:10)(cid:3)ं(cid:24)र६०% (cid:6)(cid:10) त्य(cid:10)पे राहीलक्ष(cid:10)ज(cid:10)स्(cid:24)गुणनिमळ(cid:10)ले राहीलल्य(cid:10)उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंचे राहील(cid:24)से राहीलच३०% (cid:24)े राहील४०% मध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्याीलस(cid:6)(cid:11)उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंचे राहील(cid:6)उ(cid:6)(cid:11)रिर(cid:24)उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंमध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्याीलनिक स्वरुपाच्याम(cid:10)(cid:3)५% उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)RANDOM पध्द(cid:24)ी(cid:3)े राहीलक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ढू(cid:3)त्य(cid:10)ंचे राहीलनि(cid:3)यम(cid:3)क स्वरुपाच्यारणे राहील.(ii) फक्त दिवाणी न्यायाधिश निद(cid:6)(cid:10)णीन्य(cid:10)य(cid:10)धिध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्याश ( क स्वरुपाच्यानि(cid:3)ष्ठ स्तरस्(cid:24)र) (cid:6)न्य(cid:10)यदंड(cid:10)धिध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्याक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)री( प्रथम(cid:6)ग(cid:11)) (मुख्य) परीक्षे राहीलस(cid:10)ठीउत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)परीक्षक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंक स्वरुपाच्याडू(cid:3)(cid:24)प(cid:10)सू(cid:3) झ(cid:10)ल्य(cid:10)(cid:3)ं(cid:24)र६०% (cid:6)(cid:10)त्य(cid:10)पे राहीलक्ष(cid:10)ज(cid:10)स्(cid:24)गुणनिमळ(cid:10)ले राहीलल्य(cid:10)उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंचे राहील(cid:24)से राहीलच४०% (cid:24)े राहील५०% मध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्याीलस(cid:6)(cid:11)उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंचे राहील(cid:6)उ(cid:6)(cid:11)रिर(cid:24)उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंमध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्याील निक स्वरुपाच्याम(cid:10)(cid:3)५% उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)RANDOM पध्द(cid:24)ी(cid:3)े राहीलक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ढू(cid:3)त्य(cid:10)ंचे राहीलनि(cid:3)यम(cid:3)क स्वरुपाच्यारणे राहील.ब) ज्य(cid:10)नि(cid:6)षय(cid:10)च्य(cid:10)उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंचीसंख्य(cid:10)२०किंक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:6)(cid:10)त्य(cid:10)पे राहीलक्ष(cid:10)क स्वरुपाच्यामीआहे राहील, अश (cid:10)नि(cid:6)षय(cid:10)ंच्य(cid:10)स(cid:6)(cid:11)उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंचे राहीलनि(cid:3)यम(cid:3)क स्वरुपाच्यारण्य(cid:10)(cid:24)य(cid:10)(cid:6)े राहील.२. पु(cid:3)मु(cid:11)ल्य(cid:10)ंक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:3): प्रस्(cid:24)ु(cid:24)आदे राहीलश (cid:10)(cid:24)ील(cid:24)र(cid:24)ुदी(cid:3)ुस(cid:10)रनि(cid:6)नि(cid:6)ध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्यास्पध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)(cid:11) परीक्ष(cid:10)ंच्य(cid:10)नि(cid:3)यम(cid:3)(cid:10)चे राहीलक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)मपूण(cid:11)झ(cid:10)ल्य(cid:10)(cid:6)रपरीक्षक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ं(cid:3)ीनिदले राहीलले राहीलगुण(cid:6) नि(cid:3)य(cid:10)मक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ं(cid:3)ीनिदले राहीलले राहीलगुणय(cid:10)(cid:24)१५% पे राहीलक्ष(cid:10)ज(cid:10)स्(cid:24)फरक स्वरुपाच्यापडल्य(cid:10)सत्य(cid:10)ची *7* 911wp2224o23(cid:24)ज्ज्ञ- परीक्षक स्वरुपाच्या( मुख्यनि(cid:3)य(cid:10)मक स्वरुपाच्या) य(cid:10)ंच्य(cid:10)क स्वरुपाच्याडू(cid:3)पु(cid:3)मू(cid:11)ल्य(cid:10)ंक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:3)/ (cid:24)प(cid:10)सणीक स्वरुपाच्यारु(cid:3) घ्य(cid:10)(cid:6)ी(cid:6)(cid:24)े राहीलगुणअंधि(cid:24)मसमज(cid:10)(cid:6)े राहील(cid:24).३. च(cid:10)ळणीपरीक्षे राहीलच्य(cid:10)उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंचे राहीलनि(cid:3)यम(cid:3)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहीलले राहीलज(cid:10)ण(cid:10)र(cid:3)(cid:10)ही.”11.It is common policy that where moderationmethodology is utilized for equitable assessment of answerbooks, revaluation is normally not permitted. In such a backdrop,restriction on revaluation would not appear to be arbitraryconsidering that the method of moderation is being utilized forensuring a fair and equitable assessment of answer books. Onthis count, therefore, since there is no specific challenge andthere is no prayer put forth and in view of the fact thatmoderation methodology is applied, we do not find the Rule tobe arbitrary.12.The learned Advocate for the MPSC places relianceupon the judgment delivered by the Honourable Supreme Court(three Judges Bench) in Pramod Kumar Srivastava vs. Chairman,Bihar Bihar Public Service Commission, Patna and others, 2004SCW 4541, wherein, it has been concluded in paragraphs 7 and 8as under:-“7. We have heard the appellant (writ-petitioner) in *8* 911wp2224o23person and learned counsel for the respondentsat considerable length. The main questionwhich arises for consideration is whether thelearned Single Judge was justified in directingre-evaluation of the answer-book of theappellant in General Science paper. Under therelevant rules of the Commission, there is noprovision wherein a candidate may be entitledto ask for re-evaluation of his answer-book.There is a provision for scrutiny only whereinthe answer- books are seen for the purpose ofchecking whether all the answers given by acandidate have been examined and whetherthere has been any mistake in the totaling ofmarks of each question and noting themcorrectly on the first cover page of the answer-book. There is no dispute that after scrutiny nomistake was found in the marks awarded to theappellant in the General Science paper. In theabsence of any provision for re-evaluation ofanswer- books in the relevant rules, nocandidate in an examination has got any rightwhatsoever to claim or ask for re-evaluation ofhis marks. This question was examined inconsiderable detail in Maharashtra State Boardof Secondary and Higher Secondary Educationand another v. Paritosh Bhupesh Kurmarshethand others, AIR 1984 SC 1543. In this case, therelevant rules provided for verification(scrutiny of marks) on an application made tothat effect by a candidate. Some of the studentsfiled writ petitions praying that they may beallowed to inspect the answer-books and theBoard be directed to conduct re-evaluation ofsuch of the answer-books as the petitionersmay demand after inspection. The High Courtheld that the rule providing for verification ofmarks gave an implied power to the examineesto demand a disclosure and inspection and alsoto seek re-evaluation of the answer-books. Thejudgment of the High Court was set aside and it *9* 911wp2224o23was held that in absence of a specific provisionconferring a right upon an examinee to have hisanswer-books re-evaluated, no such directioncan be issued. There is no dispute that underthe relevant rule of the Commission there is noprovision entitling a candidate to have hisanswer-books re-evaluated. In such a situation,the prayer made by the appellant in the writpetition was wholly untenable and the learnedSingle Judge had clearly erred in having theanswer-book of the appellant re-evaluated. 8. Adopting such a course as was done by thelearned Single Judge will give rise to practicalproblems. Many candidates may like to take achance and pray for re-evaluation of theiranswer-books. Naturally, the Court will passorders on different dates as and when writpetitions are filed. The Commission will haveto then send the copies of individual candidatesto examiners for re-evaluation which is boundto take time. The examination conducted by theCommission being a competitive examination,the declaration of final result will thus beunduly delayed and the vacancies will remainunfilled for a long time. What will happen if acandidate secures lesser marks in re-evaluation? He may come forward with a pleathat the marks as originally awarded to himmay be taken into consideration. The absenceof clear rules on the subject may throw manyproblems and in the larger interest, they mustbe avoided.” 13.On the aspect of revaluation, the view taken by theHonourable Supreme Court in Pramod Kumar (supra) is crystal *10* 911wp2224o23clear. It was dealing with the Bihar Public Service Commission.In paragraphs 7 and 8, the Honourable Supreme Court hasrecorded that the revaluation of an answer-sheet is anindependent exercise and if the students appearing for theexamination, make such applications, the Commission will haveto spend lot of time on revaluation and as a consequence, theresults of such examination would be unduly postponed.Reference has been made to the decision of the Hon’ble SupremeCourt in Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and HigherSecondary Education and another v. Paritosh BhupeshKurmarsheth and others, AIR 1984 SC 1543. We, therefore,conclude that the challenge to the aforesaid Rule 11(2)(b) fails.B.Students be permitted to attempt more questions than the restricted limit and the best answers be taken into account.14.The learned Advocate for the Petitioner hasstrenuously canvassed that answering more questions than whatis permissible, cannot be an anathema. If a student is supposed toanswer only five questions and he answers six, there should beno controversy on this issue as it is the choice of the *11* 911wp2224o23student/examinee to attempt as many number of questions that hemay desire with the hope that the best answers would be takeninto account while computing the marks.15.The learned advocate for the Commission contendsthat where it is specifically permissible to attempt many numberof questions and the best of the answers are to be taken intoaccount, the candidates in such cases could do so dependingupon the Rules that may be prescribed in this behalf. By relyingon Pramod Kumar (supra), he submits that nobody can travelbeyond the Rules and if it is not permissible to answer more thanthe prescribed number of questions or go against the procedureprescribed for the examination, it would not be appropriate forthis Court to take a different view. 16.According to the Petitioner, the instructions cited bythe MPSC before this Court, as well as before the Tribunal, werenot specifically published for the said examination. We find thatthe MPSC has been uniformly following a particular patternwhile issuing the instructions to the examinees. A notificationbearing No.P-1(2)/(April, 2013)/1 dated 19.03.2018 is placedbefore us at page 47 indicating that these are the instructions withregard to the examinations held in 2018 in which, the Petitioner *12* 911wp2224o23was one of the examinees. Clauses 4, 5, 6, 9 and 12 of theinstructions read as under:-"४) ज्य(cid:10)प्रश्नपनिEक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंचीउत्तरे राहीलपुस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ंच्य(cid:10)सह(cid:10)य्य(cid:10)(cid:3)े राहीललिलह(cid:10)(cid:6)य(cid:10)चीआहे राहील(cid:24). अश (cid:10)(cid:6)े राहीलळीउमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)र(cid:10)ं(cid:3)ीनि(cid:6)भ(cid:10)ग(cid:10)(cid:3)े राहीलप्रम(cid:10)णिण(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहीलले राहीललीश (cid:10)स(cid:3)प्रक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)णिश (cid:24) अधिध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्याक स्वरुपाच्याृ(cid:24)पुस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहील( स्(cid:6)(cid:24)ःची) ( यथ(cid:10)स्तिस्थ(cid:24)ीक स्वरुपाच्याे राहील(cid:6)ळबे राहीलअरॲक्ट्सआणिण/ किंक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:6)(cid:10)रुल्स) (cid:6)(cid:10)पर(cid:10)(cid:6)ी. परं(cid:24)ुपरीक्षे राहीलस(cid:10)ठीअसले राहीलल्य(cid:10)क स्वरुपाच्याोणत्य(cid:10)हीप्रश्नपनिEक स्वरुपाच्याे राहील(cid:6)रील निPपण्य(cid:10)असले राहीललीपुस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहील, म(cid:10)ग(cid:11)दर्शिश क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)किंक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:6)(cid:10)पे राहीलजर, मोब(cid:10)ईलफो(cid:3), प्रोग्र(cid:10)मे राहीलबल क स्वरुपाच्याॅलक्युले राहीलPर(cid:6)(cid:10)(cid:3)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)श े राहील, इत्य(cid:10)निद(cid:6)स्(cid:24)ूपरीक्ष(cid:10)क स्वरुपाच्याक्ष(cid:10)मध्ये राहीलआणण्य(cid:10)ची उमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)र(cid:10)ं(cid:3)(cid:10)सक्त दिवाणी न्यायाधिश म(cid:3)(cid:10)ईआहे राहील. सदरसूच(cid:3)े राहीलचे राहीलउल्लंघ(cid:3)झ(cid:10)ल्य(cid:10)चे राहीलआढळल्य(cid:10)स (cid:24)ीब(cid:10)बणिश स्(cid:24)भंगअसल्य(cid:10)चे राहीलसमजण्य(cid:10)(cid:24)ये राहीलईल(cid:6)आयोग(cid:10)म(cid:10)फ(cid:11)(cid:24)(cid:24)से राहीलच नि(cid:6)भ(cid:10)ग(cid:10)म(cid:10)फ(cid:11)(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)र(cid:6)(cid:10)ईक स्वरुपाच्याे राहीललीज(cid:10)ईल. उमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)र(cid:10)ं(cid:3)(cid:10)आयोग(cid:10)क स्वरुपाच्याडू(cid:3)क स्वरुपाच्याोण(cid:24)ीही पुस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहीलपुरनि(cid:6)लीज(cid:10)ण(cid:10)र(cid:3)(cid:10)ही(cid:24).”"५) परीक्षे राहीलच्य(cid:10)नि(cid:3)यम(cid:10)मध्ये राहीलप्रम(cid:10)णिण(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहीलल्य(cid:10)प्रम(cid:10)णे राहीलउमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)र(cid:10)ं(cid:3)(cid:10) प्रश्न(cid:10)ंचीउत्तरे राहीलइंग्रजीकिंक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:6)(cid:10)मर(cid:10)ठीमध्ये राहीललिलनिहण्य(cid:10)चीमुभ(cid:10)आहे राहील. परं(cid:24)ु उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहील(cid:24)ज्य(cid:10)भ(cid:10)षे राहील(cid:24)उत्तरलिलनिहणे राहीलसुरुक स्वरुपाच्याे राहीलले राहीलअसे राहीलल, त्य(cid:10)चभ(cid:10)षे राहील(cid:24)त्य(cid:10) उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहील(cid:24)श े राहील(cid:6)PपयX(cid:24)उत्तरे राहीललिलनिहलीप(cid:10)निहजे राहील(cid:24). परीक्षे राहीलच्य(cid:10)प्रश्नपनिEक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10) इंग्रजीभ(cid:10)षे राहील(cid:24)चक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ढल्य(cid:10)ज(cid:10)(cid:24)ील.”“६) उमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)र(cid:10)(cid:3)े राहीलप्रश्न(cid:10)ंचे राहीलउपप्रश्नसोडनि(cid:6)(cid:24)(cid:10)(cid:3)(cid:10)(अ, ब, क स्वरुपाच्या, डनिक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:6)(cid:10)१,२, ३, ४] सलगरिरत्य(cid:10)सोड(cid:6)(cid:10)(cid:6)े राहील(cid:24). प्रश्न(cid:10)च(cid:10)एक स्वरुपाच्याभ(cid:10)गएक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)पृष्ठ स्तर(cid:10)(cid:6)रदुसर(cid:10)भ(cid:10)ग क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)हीपृष्ठ स्तरे राहीलसोडू(cid:3)अथ(cid:6)(cid:10)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)हीअन्यपृष्ठ स्तर(cid:10)(cid:6)रउपप्रश्नसोडनि(cid:6)ल्य(cid:10)स(cid:24)ोउपप्रश्न दुल(cid:11)धिक्ष(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्यारण्य(cid:10)(cid:24)ये राहीलईल(cid:6)अश (cid:10)प्रश्न(cid:10)ंच्य(cid:10)उत्तर(cid:10)ं(cid:3)(cid:10)श ून्यगुणसमजण्य(cid:10)(cid:24) *13* 911wp2224o23ये राहील(cid:24)ील.”“९) नि(cid:6)भ(cid:10)गीयपरीक्षे राहीलच्य(cid:10)प(cid:10)रंपरिरक स्वरुपाच्यास्(cid:6)रुप(cid:10)च्य(cid:10)उत्तरपुस्तिस्(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहीलक स्वरुपाच्यारिर(cid:24)(cid:10) गुण(cid:10)ंचीपड(cid:24)(cid:10)ळणीक स्वरुपाच्यारण्य(cid:10)(cid:24)ये राहील(cid:24)े राहील. फे राहीलरमुल्य(cid:10)ंक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:3)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहीलले राहीलज(cid:10)(cid:24)(cid:3)(cid:10)ही.”“१२) आयोग(cid:10)(cid:3)े राहीलनि(cid:6)भ(cid:10)गीयपरीक्ष(cid:10)संदभ(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:3)े राहीलक स्वरुपाच्याे राहीलले राहीलल्य(cid:10)सूच(cid:3)(cid:10)ंचे राहील उमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)र(cid:10)(cid:3)े राहीलअत्यं(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)ळजीपू(cid:6)(cid:11)क स्वरुपाच्याप(cid:10)ल(cid:3)क स्वरुपाच्यार(cid:10)(cid:6)े राहील. सूच(cid:3)(cid:10)ंचे राहीलप(cid:10)ल(cid:3)(cid:3)क स्वरुपाच्यारणे राहील, उमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)रपरीक्ष(cid:10)क स्वरुपाच्याक्ष(cid:10)ब(cid:10)हे राहीलरघ(cid:10)ल(cid:6)ू(cid:3)दे राहीलणे राहील, गुण(cid:6)ज(cid:10)क स्वरुपाच्यारणे राहील, पुढीलपरीक्ष(cid:10)ं(cid:3)(cid:10) प्रधि(cid:24)रोधिध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्यारणे राहील, उमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)रीरद्द करणेक स्वरुपाच्यारणे राहील, इत्य(cid:10)दीणिश क्ष(cid:10)दे राहीलण्य(cid:10)सठरे राहीलल. णिश क्ष(cid:10) दे राहीलण्य(cid:10)च(cid:10)अधिध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्याक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)रस(cid:6)(cid:11)स्(cid:6)ीआयोग(cid:10)च(cid:10)र(cid:10)हील.”17.It is, thus, apparent that the instructions mandate aparticular pattern to be followed even while answering questionsin continuity under clause 6. Revaluation has been specificallyrefused in clause 9. In clause 6, it is made clear that the MPSCwould have the right to ignore certain answers if systematicpattern/sequence, as was instructed, is not followed. In clause 12,it is mentioned that all instructions have to be scrupulouslyfollowed by the examinees.18.The contention of the Petitioner is that when theinstruction on the question paper was “Answer Any Five”, it wasclear that no examinee was restricted from answering more thanfive. Despite his strenuous submissions, we find that he is unable *14* 911wp2224o23to persuade us. In matters of interpretation of any provision orany clause, a normal meaning has to be attributed to the sentenceif language is plain and simple and not ambiguous. When theinstruction to examinee is “Answer Any Five”, in our view, he isexpected to answer only five out of the available options. Theinstruction did not indicate that the examinee should answer anynumber of questions and the best five answers would beconsidered while evaluating his answer-sheet.19.There are certain examinations wherein, theAuthorities prescribe vide the rules, of taking the best answers orscores, like ‘best five’ or ‘best seven’ while evaluating anexaminee. When the instructions mandate the examinee toanswer any five, in our view, it goes without saying that he is notsupposed to answer more than five. This interpretation is fortifiedby clause 6 of the instructions. Clause 9 of the instructions forthe examinees for the departmental examination, at page 91-D ofthe petition paper book, reads as under:-“9) सोडनि(cid:6)ण्य(cid:10)च्य(cid:10)प्रश्न(cid:10)ंचीसंख्य(cid:10):- प्रत्ये राहीलक स्वरुपाच्याप्रश्नपनिEक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)(cid:6)रील सूच(cid:3)े राहीलप्रम(cid:10)णे राहीलउमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)र(cid:10)(cid:3)े राहीलप्रश्नसोडनि(cid:6)ले राहीलप(cid:10)निहजे राहील(cid:24)जरनि(cid:6)निह(cid:24)संख्ये राहीलपे राहीलक्ष(cid:10) अधिध स्पर्धा परीक्षांच्या पारंपारिक स्वरुपाच्याक स्वरुपाच्याप्रश्नसोडनि(cid:6)ले राहील(cid:24)रनि(cid:6)निह(cid:24)संख्य(cid:10)पयX(cid:24)अगोदरसोड(cid:6)ले राहीलल्य(cid:10)प्रश्न(cid:10)ंची उत्तरे राहील(cid:24)प(cid:10)सलीज(cid:10)(cid:24)ील. उरले राहीलल्य(cid:10)प्रश्न(cid:10)ंचीउत्तरे राहीलउत्तरे राहीलदुल(cid:11)धिक्ष(cid:24)क स्वरुपाच्याे राहीलले राहील *15* 911wp2224o23ज(cid:10)(cid:24)ील. उमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)र(cid:10)(cid:3)े राहीलएक स्वरुपाच्या(cid:10)प्रश्न(cid:10)चे राहीलउत्तरदो(cid:3)द(cid:10)लिलनिहल्य(cid:10)स(cid:24)प(cid:10)स(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:10)यचे राहील (cid:3)सले राहीलले राहीलएक स्वरुपाच्याउत्तररद्द करणेसमजण्य(cid:10)ब(cid:10)ब(cid:24)उमे राहीलद(cid:6)(cid:10)र(cid:10)(cid:3)े राहीलत्य(cid:10)उत्तर(cid:10)(cid:6)रउत्तररद्द करणे अस(cid:10)श े राहीलर(cid:10)(cid:3)मूदक स्वरुपाच्यार(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:10).”20.It is apparent that if an examinee answers more thanthe prescribed number of questions, the first of those answerswould be taken into account and any answer beyond theprescribed number, would not be even evaluated. Since suchexamination rules are held to be having a binding force on theexaminees in Pramod Kumar (supra), we do not find that thelearned Tribunal has erred in passing the impugned order inrefusing to scrutinize the excess answers. We answer issue no.2accordingly.(C)The examiner has wrongly denied one mark to thePetitioner when the Petitioner believes that he had answeredcorrectly21.On the third issue, the learned Advocate for thePetitioner has drawn our attention to the copy of the answer-sheetthat he has received from the MPSC, placed at page No.57 in thepetition paper book. His grievance is with regard to an answer *16* 911wp2224o23offered to a word at serial No.4 under the caption of answering‘opposite meaning of the words’. To write an opposite word tothe word “compulsory”, the Petitioner has answered as “optional/mandatory”. According to the Petitioner, the examiner was notsatisfied with the word “optional” since he preferred the word“voluntary”, which is on the basis of the expert opinion. 22.The contention of the Petitioner twofold. Firstly, thatthe examiner should have ignored the word “mandatory” andshould have accepted the word “optional”. Secondly, that thePetitioner has attempted one more answer at serial No.6 when hewrote the word “horizontal” as the opposite to the word“vertical”. If not serial No.4, the examiner should have acceptedthe answer at serial No.6.23.On the first count, we hold that since optional andmandatory are self contradictory words offered together by thePetitioner as an answer, we would not find any fault with theexaminer. Moreover, we would not step into the shoes of theexaminer to decide which is the correct answer notwithstandingthe reliance placed by the Petitioner on the “Shasan VyavaharKosh” (Government Administrative Dictionary), which mentionsthe word “optional” as having an opposite meaning to the word
Decision
*17* 911wp2224o23“compulsory”.24.The second contention also cannot be accepted sincethe Petitioner was under a mandate of answering any five and notto attempt unlimited questions. Having interpreted the meaningof “Answer Any Five” and taking into account the specificinstructions in clause 9 reproduced above, which does not obligethe examiner to evaluate the extra answers given by theexaminee, answer at serial No.6 will have to be ignored.25.In view of the above, we do not find that the learnedTribunal has committed any error in delivering the impugnedorder. Merely because a second view is possible, this Courtwould not be justified in exercising it’s supervisory jurisdictionin interfering in the impugned order considering the law laiddown by the Honourable Supreme Court in Syed Yakoob Vs.K.S.Radhakrishnan and others [AIR 1964 SC 477] and SuryaDev Rai Vs. Ram Chander Rai [2003(6) SCC 682].26.This Writ Petition is, therefore, dismissed. Rule isdischarged.27.No order as to costs. kps (Y. G. KHOBRAGADE, J.) (RAVINDRA V. GHUGE, J.)