ASO recruitment case reaches Supreme Court; notices issued to Odisha govt, OPSC

The case pertaining to the recruitment of assistant section officer (ASO) reached the Supreme Court with the apex court issuing notices to the Odisha government and the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC).

Admitting a special leave petition (SLP) of petitioner Rajat Mishra, the top court also issued notices to other concerned parties in this regard.

Earlier on December 22, 2023, the Orissa High Court ruled that there were no irregularities in the selection process carried out by the OPSC for the recruitment of ASO and upheld the merit list of 1104 candidates published by the commission.

A single bench of Orissa High Court on May 19 had scrapped the merit list prepared by the OPSC for recruitment to the 796 posts of Assistant Section Officer (ASO) in the state secretariat ordering it to prepare a fresh merit list on the basis of marks obtained by candidates in the written examination, within two months.

The ASO exam was conducted by OPSC to fill up 796 (265 women) posts under the Odisha Secretariat Service and the result was published November 7. As many as 1104 candidates cleared the written examination and shortlisted for document verification and skill test.

However, many aspirants alleged irregularities in the selection process. They even alleged that each post has been sold off for Rs 15 to Rs 20 lakh.

Later, the OPSC authorities released a statement terming all the allegations made by the aspirants as baseless and false.