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Delhi High Court

Ashish And Ors vs Union Of India And Ors on 13 February, 2025

Author: Navin Chawla

Bench: Navin Chawla

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                  *    IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
                                                                  Date of decision: 13.02.2025
                  +      W.P.(C) 1829/2025 & CM APPL. 8818/2025
                         ASHISH AND ORS                                       .....Petitioners
                                                 Through:      Mr. Shubham Kumar, Mr.
                                                               Kavish Aggarwala, Mr. Uttam
                                                               Kumar, Mr. Ritesh Singh and
                                                               Mr. Suraj Pathak, Advs.
                                                 versus
                         UNION OF INDIA AND ORS                               .....Respondents
                                                 Through:      Mr. Mukul Singh, CGSC with
                                                               Ms. Ira Singh and Mr. Aryan
                                                               Dhaka, Advs.
                         CORAM:
                         HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAVIN CHAWLA
                         HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SHALINDER KAUR

                  NAVIN CHAWLA, J. (ORAL)

1. This petition has been filed by the petitioners, praying for the following reliefs:-

"a) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order, or direction, directing the Respondents to disclose the answer key and question paper of the AFCAT Test conducted from 9th to 11th August 2024, to ensure transparency in the evaluation process;

b) Direct the Respondents to provide the Petitioners with their response sheets, indicating the responses filled by them towards each question, along with the raw and normalized scores achieved by Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed W.P.(C) 1829/2025 Page 1 of 3 By:NEELAM Signing Date:14.02.2025 17:00:35 them in the AFCAT test;

c) Direct the Respondents to establish a grievance redressal mechanism, including the option for candidates to challenge the evaluation or results if discrepancies arise, in accordance with principles of fairness and transparency;

d) Direct the Respondents to implement a policy ensuring that for all future AFCAT exams, the question paper, answer key, response sheet and score normalization process are made available to candidates, promoting transparency and accountability;

e) Pass such further or other orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case."

2. The learned counsel for the respondents, who appears on advance notice of this petition, on instructions, submits that the answer key and the question paper of the AFCAT Test conducted from 09th to 11th August, 2024 shall be released to the petitioners within a period of one week from today. The learned counsel for the respondents further submits that even the response sheet of the petitioners shall also be duly released on the key allotted to the respective petitioners within the same period.

3. In order to avoid further litigation, we direct that similarly for all other candidates, who make or have made similar requests to the respondents, the respondents shall also release the answer key, as well as, the response sheet of those candidates.

4. In view of the above, the prayer made in the petition stands satisfied. The petition is, accordingly, disposed of.

5. We make it clear that in case the petitioners are still aggrieved by any decision taken by the respondents, it shall be open to the petitioners to challenge the same, in accordance with law.

NAVIN CHAWLA, J SHALINDER KAUR, J FEBRUARY 13, 2025/ss/kp/DG Click here to check corrigendum, if any Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed W.P.(C) 1829/2025 Page 3 of 3 By:NEELAM Signing Date:14.02.2025 17:00:35