THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, February 20: The Jharkhand High Court on Friday granted interim relief to several aspirants seeking age relaxation to appear in the upcoming Combined Civil Services Examination conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).
Hearing a batch of writ petitions, Justice Ananda Sen directed JPSC to accept the online application forms of the petitioners and permit them to appear in the Preliminary Test (P.T.) examination scheduled under Advertisement No. 01 of 2026.
Plea for Age Relaxation
The petitioners contended that the Combined Civil Services Examination is being held after a gap of two years and that age relaxation had been granted on the previous occasion. They argued that the denial of similar relaxation this year would unfairly prejudice candidates who have crossed the upper age limit during the intervening period.
The matter assumed urgency as the last date for submission of online forms was February 20.
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Court Directs Conditional Participation
Taking note of the submissions, the Court directed the State and JPSC to file their replies and listed the matter for further hearing on April 1, 2026, along with a connected petition.
As an interim measure, the Court ordered the JPSC to create a special online portal to enable the petitioners — including over-age litigants — to submit their applications.
The Court further allowed the petitioners to appear in the Preliminary Test and, if successful, in the Main Examination as well. However, it made it clear that the results of these candidates, including those of the Preliminary Test, shall not be published without the leave of the Court.
Justice Sen clarified that permitting the candidates to appear in the examinations would not create any vested or equitable right in their favour, and their participation would remain subject to the final outcome of the writ petitions.
A copy of the order was directed to be handed over to counsel appearing for JPSC for immediate compliance.