TNPSC scam: High Court impleads all 74 selected candidates

TNN | Updated: Dec 22, 2017, 06:39 IST

CHENNAI: Noting that the interim reports of investigation into the alleged scam in the recent TNPSC group I exams suggests certain allegations of corruption, the Madras high court on Thursday suo motu impleaded all the 74 candidates who were selected through the exams.
Justice SM Subramaniam also ordered the court registry to issue notice to the TNPSC. The issue was brought to light by a transsexual woman, S Swapna, who approached the high court seeking a probe.

Swapna came to know about the scam when a private television channel aired a news report alleging large scale scam in group I exams based on blank answer sheets of TNPSC in their possession.

A forensic test ordered by the high court confirmed that blank answer sheets of TNPSC in possession of a private television channel are original and printed in same printer.

This apart, the investigating officer submitted that the answer sheets were actually sent to the television channel by an anonymous person, in an attempt to expose the scam.

The authorities also said on inspection of the TNPSC office premises, it was found that blank answer sheets stocked openly on pavements near officers' cabins. "Only sheets used by candidates were secured inside a room under the custody of the controller of examination. The blank sheets were also unaccounted for," they said.

According to Swapna, the written examinations were conducted on July 29, 30 and 31, of 2016 for 68 vacancies. She managed to clear the preliminary examination and appeared in the next levels but failed to clear.

Swapna happened to watch a news report about malpractices in the exams. The channel also claimed that they have registered a formal complaint with the police commissioner's office and the chief minister's cell about the same.

The report prompted her to get hold of her answer sheet copy through an RTI