Odisha CIC directs OPSC to provide interview marks to candidates

Bhubaneswar, Sep 8 (UNI) In a landmark order, the Odisha State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) has directed the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) to provide interview marks to a candidate who was not selected for the post of Assistant Teacher in 2002.

The case relates to Minati Rani Mohapatra of Bhadrak district, who had applied for the post of Assistant Teacher in History.

As per the advertisement, the selection process was based on career marks and interview marks. However, when the results were published in June 2002, Mohapatra’s name did not appear in the
List of selected candidates.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, she filed an RTI application in December 2002, seeking details of her career assessment marks and interview marks.

While OPSC provided her career marks, it refused to disclose the interview marks, citing a decision taken in December 2002 not to reveal such information to candidates.

During the hearing before the Information Commission, the OPSC representative argued that interview marks are neither recorded nor assigned as minimum qualifying criteria.

Instead, the interview is treated as an assessment of a candidate’s personality and communication skills, with suitability being the only outcome conveyed.
Accordingly, specific marks are neither disclosed nor is any merit list published.
Rejecting this stand, State Chief Information Commissioner Manoj Parida observed that OPSC’s decision was contrary to the provisions of the RTI Act.

He emphasised that candidates have the right to know their interview marks, particularly those who are unsuccessful, so that they can identify shortcomings and improve in future attempts.

Parida, in his order, further stated that Section 22 of the RTI Act, 2005, overrides all other Acts and rules, thereby mandating disclosure of such information.

He directed OPSC to change its procedure and ensure that candidates are provided with details of marks scored, including interview marks.