Andhra Pradesh High Court Issues Ultimatum to Investigation Team
The Andhra Pradesh High Court delivered a forceful directive on Monday, confronting the Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with examining alleged irregularities in the evaluation of Group-1 answer sheets. The court explicitly stated that if the SIT believes it cannot conduct the investigation as ordered, it must declare this on record immediately.
"Complete the Task or Step Aside"
The bench, comprising Justices Battu Devanand and A Hari Haranatha Sharma, declared: "If you think you can do the investigation as directed, you do it. Otherwise, you say it on record, so that we will hand it over to another agency which is capable of doing it." This stern warning came in response to a memo from the SIT requesting additional time, despite having previously filed an affidavit committing to complete the probe within one month.
The court had already granted a one-month extension based on that affidavit. When SIT counsel Panini Somayaji sought further time, citing communication from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), the bench firmly rejected the request. The CFSL had retained only 167 answer sheets while returning approximately 500 others, describing the verification task as substantial within the SIT's requested timeframe.
Judicial Displeasure and Contempt Proceedings
During the hearing of contempt petitions against the former chief secretary and the secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD), the high court expressed continued dissatisfaction. The bench criticized the failure to transfer successful candidates to non-focal positions as previously directed.
The court pointedly questioned recent transfers made by the Director General of Police, which posted some successful candidates as Deputy Superintendents of Police in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The bench asked whether the Anti-Corruption Bureau and CID qualify as non-focal positions according to government definitions, and sarcastically inquired if these officers are now being utilized to transport answer sheet bundles to the CFSL in Hyderabad.
A Broader Conflict Emerges
The bench made a significant observation about the nature of the case, noting: "The case does not appear to be between successful candidates, unsuccessful candidates and the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), but between the state government, APPSC, and successful candidates on one side and the high court on the other side." This statement highlights the deepening institutional tensions surrounding the investigation.
Ultimately, the matter was scheduled for submission of the investigation report on April 30, after Somayaji assured the court that the SIT is prepared to complete its work within the granted one-month period. The high court's uncompromising stance underscores the urgency and seriousness with which it views the alleged answer sheet evaluation irregularities, placing direct responsibility on the SIT to deliver results or be replaced by a more capable agency.
