Haryana ADA Exam Pattern Can't Be Changed: HPSC To P&H High Court In Plea Challenging Shift In Syllabus From Law To GK

The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) has informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the exam pattern for the post of Assistant District Attorney (ADA) cannot be altered at this stage. Responding to a plea challenging the recent shift in the syllabus from law-based subjects to general knowledge, the Commission stated that such a change is not feasible.

The plea was filed challenging the deviation from the traditional law-focused pattern, arguing it undermines the professional relevance of the examination.

The new syllabus for Haryana ADA Screening Test includes Current Events of National and International Importance, History of India, Indian and World Geography, Indian Culture, Indian Polity and Indian Economy, General Mental Ability, Reasoning and Analytical Abilities, Basic numeracy, numbers and their relations, Data interpretation, Haryana GK History etc. and excludes law subject.

Justice Sandeep Moudgil, had asked whether the Commission is willing to increase the zone of consideration for calling the number of candidates from 4 times so that more number of candidates can give subject knowledge test, especially when screening test is not related to subject of law.

In the alternative, the bench asked whether the Commission is willing to change the pattern of examination by having the Subject Knowledge test (SKT) at the first instance and thereafter conduct the Screening Test (multiple choice examination) and the marks of Subjective examination, multiple choice examination and interview are added while declaring the final result.

Answering the query, the HPSC said that it will not call more than four times the meritorious candidates as it will expedite the evaluation of examination.

 "It is not feasible...methodology adopted by the Commission is to ensure selection of overall meritorious candidates having comprehensive knowledge. After shortlisting the candidates, a subiect knowledge test is conducted to ensure that the Subject Experts evaluate the answer sheets of limited number of examinees, (while maintaining uniformity. Evaluating subjective answer sheets of thousands of candidates will be a very time consuming process Since more than 27000 applicants have applied for 255 posts. conducting a SKT for such large number of candidates is not possible as SKT is a subjective exam and checking of answer sheets of 27000 candidates will take months which will delay the entire process,"the Commission stated in the reply. 

It further added that, "conducting a Screening Test after having conducted a Subject Knowledge Test would be meaningless because the purpose of Screening Test is to screen the candidates so that a limited number of candidates are available for the main exam, i.e. Subject Knowledge Test. If all the candidates are allowed to appear in the Subject Knowledge Test. then there is no purpose of screening them subsequently."

The case is now reserved for judgement.

Advocates Ajit Singh Lamba and Vivek Sheoran appeared for the petitioner.

Title: Lakhan Singh v. State of Haryana & Ors.