The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear a plea alleging irregularities in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam conducted on December 13, 2024, and the subsequent police crackdown on protesters.
A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan, directed the petitioner to approach the Patna High Court to address their concerns.
The petitioner, represented by the Anand Legal Aid Forum Trust, urged the bench to examine the issue, highlighting the alleged police brutality against peaceful demonstrators demanding the exam’s cancellation.
“We are advising you to go to the Patna High Court,” the CJI responded. The counsel argued that paper leaks had become a routine issue. However, the CJI maintained, “We understand your sentiments, but this court cannot be the court of first instance. It is more appropriate and efficient for the petitioner to approach the Patna High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.”
The council noted that the baton charge on protesters occurred near the Patna High Court Chief Justice’s residence and suggested that the High Court could have taken suo-motu notice of the incident.
Bihar police allegedly used force to disperse civil service aspirants protesting the BPSC exam. The commission later scheduled a re-exam on January 4 at 22 centers in Patna. Of the 12,012 eligible candidates, 8,111 downloaded admit cards, and 5,943 appeared for the test.
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, fasting indefinitely at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan over similar demands, was arrested and later released on bail. He was admitted to Medanta Hospital’s ICU on Tuesday due to health complications.
