Kerala High Court
Bindu John vs Commissioner Of Examinations on 5 February, 2026
Author: N.Nagaresh
Bench: N.Nagaresh
2026:KER:10352
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH
THURSDAY, THE 5TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026 / 16TH MAGHA, 1947
WP(C) NO. 47456 OF 2025
PETITIONER:
BINDU JOHN,
AGED 50 YEARS,
W/O.ANTONY, CHULAYILLAPLACKAL,
PALOORKADAVU P.O., THEKKEMALA,
PERUVANTHANAM, IDUKKI,
WORKING AS: SEWING TEACHER IN
ST.ANTONY'S H.S.S. POONJAR,
KOTTAYAM, PIN - 685532.
BY ADVS.
SRI.J.JULIAN XAVIER
SRI.FIROZ K.ROBIN
SRI.ROY JOSEPH
SRI.AKHIL P.C.
SMT.ASWATHY SUSAN PAUL
RESPONDENTS:
1 COMMISSIONER OF EXAMINATIONS,
GOVERNMENT OF KERALA,
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR GOVERNMENT
EXAMINATIONS, POOJAPURA,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
PIN - 695012.
2 SECRETARY,
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR GOVERNMENT
EXAMINATIONS, POOJAPURA,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
PIN - 695012.
2026:KER:10352
W.P.(C) No.47456/2025
:2:
3 STATE OF KERALA,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY
GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT,
SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
PIN - 695001.
BY ADV.
SRI.V.VENUGOPAL, GOVERNMENT PLEADER
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 05.02.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
2026:KER:10352
W.P.(C) No.47456/2025
:3:
JUDGMENT
Dated this the 5th day of February, 2026 The petitioner, who appeared for the K.TET examination, which is one of the requirements for getting an appointment as a School Teacher, has approached this Court, being aggrieved by the denial of the publication of the results in the examination, as she was disqualified. As per Ext.P5, the petitioner was disqualified for the reason that while bubbling the column set apart for the register number in the OMR sheet, the number was shown incorrectly.
2. The case of the petitioner is that it was only a trivial mistake and that by itself cannot be a ground to disqualify the petitioner as such. It is also contended by the petitioner that 2026:KER:10352 W.P.(C) No.47456/2025 :4: even though there was a mistake in bubbling the register number, the number was correctly mentioned in the OMR sheet in writing and therefore, there was no difficulty in identifying the answer sheet of the petitioner. This writ petition is filed in such circumstances seeking the following reliefs:
"i) To call for the records connected with case leading to Ext.P5 and set aside Ext.P5 to the extent disqualifying the petitioner for invalid OMR details in the K-TET exam held on 11.09.2025 in Category IV by the 1st respondent, by issuing a writ of certiorari.
ii) To issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing the 1st respondent to verify the OMR sheet of the petitioner with roll number 800337 ignoring the bubbling made in the digits in Ext.P6 and publish the result of the petitioner within a time frame fixed by this Hon'ble Court.
iii) To grant such other reliefs that may be deemed just and proper by this Hon'ble Court.
iv) To award cost of these proceedings."
3. Today, when the matter came up for consideration, the Government Pleader, upon instructions, 2026:KER:10352 W.P.(C) No.47456/2025 :5: submitted that the mistake committed by the petitioner was very crucial and a large number of candidates were already disqualified for the very same reason in the examination which the petitioner attended. The Government Pleader also placed reliance upon a judgment rendered by a Division Bench of this Court in Kerala Public Service Commission v. V.Shaiju T.L. [2013 (2) KLT 946].
4. After considering all the relevant aspects and the observations made by the Division Bench in Shaiju's case (supra), I do not find any scope for granting the reliefs sought for by the petitioner in this writ petition. It is to be noted that in Shaiju's case (supra), an exactly similar issue was considered by this Court and the Division Bench was pleased to set aside the judgment passed by the learned Single Judge, holding that the mistake referred to above is attributable to the petitioner alone and therefore, opportunity cannot be granted.
2026:KER:10352 W.P.(C) No.47456/2025 :6:
5. The counsel for the petitioner pointed out that the said judgment was rendered in respect of a competitive examination conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission, whereas, the present examination was only a qualifying examination, where the relief sought by the petitioner will not affect the status of any other persons who attended the examination. However, on carefully going through the observations in Shaiju's case (supra), it can be seen that the decision taken therein was not in view of the fact that it may affect the status of other candidates. But, on the other hand, it was decided on the ground that the mistake was attributable to the petitioner therein. Besides, it was also observed that, in the said examination 129 candidates were disqualified for the very same reason.
6. Thus, it is evident that the factual circumstances under which the Division Bench rendered the decision in Shaiju's case (supra) are exactly similar and 2026:KER:10352 W.P.(C) No.47456/2025 :7: therefore a different conclusion is not possible.
Therefore, I do not find any merit in the writ petition and accordingly the writ petition is dismissed.
Sd/-
N. NAGARESH JUDGE SR 2026:KER:10352 W.P.(C) No.47456/2025 :8: APPENDIX OF WP(C) NO. 47456 OF 2025 PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS:
Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER DATED 01.08.2013 ISSUED BY THE CORPORATE MANAGER, ST.JOSEPH'S CORPORATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY OF EMI SCHOOL, PROVINCIAL HOUSE, KOTTAYAM.
Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE G.O. (P)NO.139/2024/GEDN DATED 05.11.2024.
Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGES OF NOTIFICATION NO.
EX/CGL(2)/46634/2024/CGE DATED
03.04.2025.
Exhibit P4 TRUE COPY OF THE ADMIT CARD WITH ROLL
NO.800337 ISSUED TO THE PETITIONER BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT.
Exhibit P5 TRUE COPY OF THE RESULT OF THE EXAMINATION K-TET - MAY 2025 CATEGORY IV WITH ROLL NO.800337.
Exhibit P6 TRUE COPY OF THE CANDIDATE COPY OF K-
TET ELIGIBILITY TEST - MAY 2025 ANSWER SHEET IN CATEGORY IV.