BPSC paper leak: Supreme Court refuses to hear plea on exam row, police atrocities; asks petitioner to move HC

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a petition raising allegations of widespread malpractices during the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Preliminary Exam and asks the petitioner to approach the Patna High Court, reported PTI.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan asked petitioner to move the Patna High Court with the grievances, added the report.

"We are asking you to go to the Patna High Court,” PTI quoted the CJI as saying. 

Highlighting the alleged brutality of the Bihar police against peaceful protesters who were demanding the cancellation of the controversial Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam, the counsel for the petitioner, Anand Legal Aid Forum Trust, urged the bench to consider the plea.

The counsel, however, said, "This paper leak is happening as a daily matter."

"We understand your sentiments attached...but we cannot be the court of first instance," PTI quoted the CJI as saying, wo added, "We understand your sentiments attached... but we cannot be the court of first instance. We feel it will be appropriate and more expeditious that the petitioner approached the Patna High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution."

Earlier, petitioner challenged the BPSC Preliminary Exam on grounds of an alleged paper leak.

According to the allegations of the counsel, the Bihar police allegedly used force to control civil service aspirants who demanded the cancellation of the BPSC.

Prashant Kishor protest:

On Monday, Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor was granted 'unconditional bail' by a court in Patna, after he was sent to Beur jail for refusing to pay the bail bond of ₹25,000.

Immediately after being released from the jail, Kishor while addressing the protesting BPSC aspirants and said, "There is no strength bigger than people's strength."

He further informed about the whole incident and said that the Police took him to Beur jail but they had no documents to keep him there.

He was observing a fast-unto-death over BPSC irregularities, which he launched on 2 January supporting the protesting students seeking a cancellation of the BPSC exam.

The students are seeking the cancellation of the Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, which was conducted by the BPSC on 13 December, due to alleged question paper leaks.

With agency inputs.