Times of India: Bhubaneswar: Tuesday, 9 September 2025.
The Odisha Information Commission (OIC) has directed Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to provide a candidate's exact marks secured in the viva-voce test for the post of assistant teacher. The order was given on Sept 2, following a second appeal filed by Minati Rani Mohapatra of Bhadrak, who was an applicant in the recruitment test but was not selected. Dissatisfied with the information provided under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, she approached the OIC after OPSC refused to disclose her marks secured in viva-voce.
During the hearing, OPSC
maintained that it took an internal decision in Dec 2022 not to release
interview marks, stating that the selection was based solely on interview
performance assessed on parameters like domain knowledge, pedagogic skills,
publications, curriculum vitae and personality. Instead of marks, OPSC
categorised candidates as ‘suitable' or ‘unsuitable'.
Rejecting this stand, state chief information commissioner Manoj Parida observed that such a practice violated the ‘letter and spirit' of the RTI Act. "There is no justification to group all candidates into two categories of ‘suitable' and ‘unsuitable.' For the sake of transparency, marks scored by each candidate must be recorded and a proper merit list should be published," the order stated.
OIC pointed out that the Union Public Service Commission already follows this practice in its exams and there was no reason why OPSC should adopt a different system. It stressed that disclosure of marks would help candidates assess their performance and improve their future attempts, while also making the recruitment process non-controversial. OIC also advised OPSC to adopt clear and quantifiable assessment methods at every stage of selection to ensure transparency and accountability. It referred to a similar directive issued earlier in 2018 in a case involving the Odisha Staff Selection Commission. Disposing of the appeal, OIC directed OPSC's public information officer to furnish the appellant with her viva-voce marks if such records were available.
The Odisha Information Commission (OIC) has directed Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to provide a candidate's exact marks secured in the viva-voce test for the post of assistant teacher. The order was given on Sept 2, following a second appeal filed by Minati Rani Mohapatra of Bhadrak, who was an applicant in the recruitment test but was not selected. Dissatisfied with the information provided under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, she approached the OIC after OPSC refused to disclose her marks secured in viva-voce.
Rejecting this stand, state chief information commissioner Manoj Parida observed that such a practice violated the ‘letter and spirit' of the RTI Act. "There is no justification to group all candidates into two categories of ‘suitable' and ‘unsuitable.' For the sake of transparency, marks scored by each candidate must be recorded and a proper merit list should be published," the order stated.
OIC pointed out that the Union Public Service Commission already follows this practice in its exams and there was no reason why OPSC should adopt a different system. It stressed that disclosure of marks would help candidates assess their performance and improve their future attempts, while also making the recruitment process non-controversial. OIC also advised OPSC to adopt clear and quantifiable assessment methods at every stage of selection to ensure transparency and accountability. It referred to a similar directive issued earlier in 2018 in a case involving the Odisha Staff Selection Commission. Disposing of the appeal, OIC directed OPSC's public information officer to furnish the appellant with her viva-voce marks if such records were available.
.JPG)
.JPG)
