Bhubaneswar, Sep 8: The Odisha Information Commission has directed the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to disclose interview marks to candidates who were not selected in recruitment examinations, marking a significant step toward transparency in public recruitment processes.
The order was issued by Odisha’s Chief Information Commissioner, Manoj Parida, following a petition by Minati Rani Mohapatra, a resident of Bhadrak district. Mohapatra had applied for the post of Assistant Teacher in 2022 but was not selected. The recruitment was based on a combination of career assessment and interview performance.
After failing to make the final list, Mohapatra requested a breakdown of her scores from the OPSC. While the commission provided her career assessment marks, it declined to disclose her interview scores. In response, she approached the Odisha Information Commission seeking complete details under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
During the hearing, the OPSC argued that no minimum qualifying marks were set for the interview stage and that individual interview scores were neither recorded nor disclosed.
According to OPSC, interviews are subjective assessments of a candidate’s personality and suitability for the role, and only a suitability status (suitable/unsuitable) is communicated, not specific marks or a merit list.
However, the Information Commission found this practice inconsistent with the RTI Act. In its ruling, it emphasized that candidates have the right to access their interview marks, particularly those who were unsuccessful, as this information is essential for improving their future performance.
"Every candidate, especially those who fail to qualify, deserves to know why they did not succeed," the Commission stated. "The OPSC cannot keep candidates in the dark."
Citing Section 22 of the RTI Act, 2005, which overrides conflicting provisions in other laws or rules, the Commission advised OPSC to revise its procedures to ensure transparency. It concluded that denying such information contradicts the spirit of the RTI Act and undermines accountability in public recruitment.
