RTI for HPSC — Haryana Public Service Commission Exam Marks and Merit List

Candidates who appear in the Haryana Civil Services (HCS) examination or any other recruitment conducted by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) often find themselves in the dark about their marks, the answer key applied for their papers, their interview scores, and how reservation rosters were maintained across categories. The Right to Information Act, 2005 gives every citizen a statutory right to compel HPSC — a state public authority under Section 2(h) of the Act — to disclose this information. For a fee of ₹10, a candidate can obtain paper-wise Mains marks, official answer keys, category-wise cut-offs, interview marks, and reservation roster records. This guide explains what RTI can obtain from HPSC, how to file it, and how to escalate through First Appeal and Second Appeal to the Haryana State Information Commission (HSIC) when HPSC fails to respond.

HPSC: Haryana's Constitutional Recruitment Body

The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) is a constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Constitution of India, which mandates a Public Service Commission for each state of India. HPSC came into existence when Haryana was carved out as a separate state from Punjab in 1966. It is headquartered at Bays 1-10, Sector 4, Panchkula – 134112 — not in Chandigarh, though Panchkula and Chandigarh are adjacent cities. HPSC operates autonomously under the Governor of Haryana and is not subordinate to any department of the state government for the purposes of recruitment.

The HCS Examination

The Haryana Civil Services (HCS) (Executive Branch) & Other Allied Services Examination is HPSC's most prominent and competitive recruitment. HCS is the premier state civil services examination of Haryana, analogous to the IAS/UPSC Civil Services Examination at the national level. HCS selects officers for a range of Group A and Group B state services, including:

• Haryana Civil Service (Executive Branch): Officers posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Tehsildars, Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs), and related executive roles in the districts
• Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP): Entry-level gazetted police officer in the Haryana Police
• District Revenue Officer / Tehsildar: Revenue administration at the district and sub-district level
• Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO): Haryana Excise & Taxation Department
• Haryana Agricultural Service: State agriculture extension officers
• Various other allied services: Including accounts, audit, cooperative, employment, and labour services of Haryana state

The HCS Examination is conducted in three stages: a Preliminary Examination (objective MCQ), Main Examination (written descriptive papers), and an Interview/Personality Test. The Preliminary Examination is a screening test; only those who clear the preliminary cut-off proceed to the Mains. The final merit list is prepared on the basis of Mains marks and Interview marks combined.

Other HPSC Recruitments

Beyond HCS, HPSC also recruits for:

• Haryana Civil Services (Judicial Branch) — district judges and civil judge (junior division) through HCS (Judicial) recruitment
• Haryana Superior Judicial Service — promoted/directly recruited district judges
• Medical Officer Recruitment — Medical Officers for the Haryana Civil Medical Services (HCMS) and specialist officers for Haryana government hospitals
• Assistant Professor and Lecturer posts — in Haryana government colleges and technical institutions
• Engineering Services — state engineers for Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation, Town & Country Planning, and other technical departments
• Various Group A and Group B departmental recruitments — as and when requisitioned by Haryana state departments

All of these recruitments are governed by the Haryana Public Service Commission Regulations and the relevant state service rules. They are all subject to RTI disclosure obligations as HPSC is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Haryana's Reservation Framework

Understanding Haryana's reservation framework is important context for RTI requests relating to merit lists and reservation rosters. Haryana has a distinctive reservation architecture that differs from many other states:

• Scheduled Castes (SC): 20% reservation in Haryana state services, notified under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order
• Backward Class — A (BC-A): Haryana maintains two separate backward class categories. BC-A covers communities historically more disadvantaged among the Backward Classes and receives a separate quota
• Backward Class — B (BC-B): A second backward class category in Haryana for communities included in the BC list but considered relatively less disadvantaged than BC-A communities
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10% reservation for EWS candidates following the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, applicable to candidates from unreserved categories with family income below ₹8 lakh per annum
• Ex-Servicemen: Horizontal reservation for ex-servicemen of Haryana domicile across categories
• Persons with Disabilities (PwD): Horizontal reservation as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

The BC-A and BC-B distinction is unique to Haryana and makes the reservation roster more complex than in states with a single OBC category. RTI applications seeking the reservation roster must specifically request BC-A and BC-B breakdowns to get a complete picture of how reservations were implemented.

Why RTI Matters for HPSC Exam Transparency

Despite being a constitutional body conducting public examinations with outcomes that significantly affect careers and livelihoods, HPSC has not always been forthcoming about exam-related data. Common concerns that RTI can help address include:

Opacity in marks: HPSC result publications often show only a merit position or a "selected/not selected" outcome, without revealing the stage-wise marks. A candidate who clears the Preliminary but does not make the final merit list has no way of knowing their Mains or Interview marks without an RTI application.

Answer key challenges: Preliminary examinations use MCQ formats where the answer key directly determines whether a candidate clears the cut-off. Errors in answer keys — or the failure to correct them after valid objections — can wrongly eliminate qualified candidates. RTI gives candidates the right to the final corrected answer key and the reasons for accepting or rejecting objections.

Interview score disputes: The Interview/Personality Test stage is the least transparent. Without an RTI application, a candidate has no way to verify the marks assigned by the interview board. The Supreme Court in CBSE and Another v. Aditya Bandopadhyay and Others (2011) 8 SCC 497 settled that examination records — including interview marks — are "information" under the RTI Act and must be disclosed. HPSC cannot invoke fiduciary confidentiality to withhold a candidate's own interview marks once the examination has concluded.

Reservation roster compliance: Candidates belonging to SC, BC-A, BC-B, and EWS categories who suspect that their reserved category quota was not correctly filled have a right to see the reservation roster. RTI is the primary tool to access this record and verify compliance.

What RTI Can Help You Obtain from HPSC

1. Paper-wise Marks at Every Stage

RTI can compel HPSC to produce your marks at each stage of the HCS or any other HPSC examination:

• Preliminary Examination: Your total score and, where applicable, section-wise or subject-wise marks. For sets/codes (A/B/C/D), the marks after normalisation (if normalisation was applied) and the raw marks before normalisation
• Mains Examination: Paper-wise marks for each General Studies paper, the Essay paper, the compulsory language paper (Hindi / English), and any optional or subject-specific paper
• Interview: The marks awarded to your roll number by the interview board

2. Official Answer Key (Preliminary Examination)

For MCQ-based Preliminary Examinations, RTI can yield:

• The provisional answer key for each paper and set/code
• The final corrected answer key issued after disposal of candidate objections
• The record of objections received, the number accepted or rejected, and the reasons given for each change (or for rejecting objections)
• Whether any question was dropped (given to all candidates) and the reason

3. Interview Marks and Board Composition

RTI can be used to seek:

• The marks awarded to your roll number in the Interview/Personality Test
• The names and designations of interview board members on the date of your interview
• The date, time, and session of your interview as scheduled by HPSC
• The overall range of marks (highest and lowest) awarded by the board across candidates interviewed in your batch or on your date — to contextualise your score

If HPSC attempts to withhold interview marks citing Section 8(1)(e) (fiduciary relationship), rebut this firmly by citing CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011) 8 SCC 497: once an examination is concluded and results are declared, there is no ongoing fiduciary process to protect. The marks belong to the candidate's own record and must be disclosed.

4. Category-wise Cut-off Marks and Merit List

RTI can compel HPSC to produce:

• Category-wise cut-off marks for the Preliminary Examination (General/UR, SC, BC-A, BC-B, EWS)
• Category-wise cut-off marks for qualifying the Mains Examination for the Interview stage
• The aggregate marks (Mains + Interview) of the last selected candidate in each category and for each post
• The total number of candidates who appeared, qualified, and were selected at each stage, broken down by category
• The final merit list showing roll numbers (and names, if published) of selected candidates along with their aggregate scores

5. Reservation Roster and Category-wise Vacancy Compliance

The reservation roster is a running register maintained by HPSC (or the requisitioning department) to ensure that reserved category vacancies are filled according to the prescribed percentages. RTI can yield:

• The reservation roster for each post notified in the HPSC advertisement
• Category-wise breakdown of vacancies advertised and vacancies actually filled (SC, BC-A, BC-B, EWS, General/UR)
• Details of any backlog vacancies carried forward to future recruitments
• Whether any de-reservation or exchange of vacancies occurred, and the approval for the same

This information is vital for candidates from SC, BC-A, BC-B, or EWS categories who believe the reserved quota was not correctly implemented.

6. Selection Criteria and Examination Process Records

RTI can also be used to obtain procedural documents:

• The original advertisement (notification) for the examination, including corrigenda and amendments issued after the original publication
• The scheme of examination (number of papers, marks for each paper, qualifying criteria, interview weightage)
• The model answer key or marking scheme for descriptive Mains papers (if prepared and used by evaluators)
• Any committee or expert body's recommendations on answer keys or evaluation methodology
• Records of whether any examination irregularity was investigated and the outcome of such investigation

Where to File

HPSC is a single public authority with its CPIO at the Panchkula headquarters:

CPIO, Haryana Public Service Commission Bays 1-10, Sector 4, Panchkula – 134112

The First Appellate Authority (FAA) for HPSC RTI matters is typically the Secretary or a designated senior officer of the Commission. Verify the current FAA's name and designation from HPSC's official website (hpsc.gov.in) at the time of filing.

The second appeal body for HPSC is the Haryana State Information Commission (HSIC), constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act for all Haryana state public authorities. Second appeals against HPSC never go to the Central Information Commission (CIC), which handles only Central Government bodies.

How to File: Step by Step

RTI applications for HPSC can be filed online or by post.

Online (preferred):

1. Visit rtionline.gov.in — the Haryana state RTI portal integrates with this central portal for Haryana state bodies. Create an account or log in with your credentials.
2. Select Haryana as the state and choose Haryana Public Service Commission as the public authority.
3. In the application text field, clearly state the examination name, advertisement number, your roll number, and the stage for which you seek information. Number each item of information separately — this prevents HPSC from selectively answering only some points.
4. Pay the ₹10 fee online. BPL cardholders select the BPL exemption option and upload a copy of their BPL ration card.
5. Submit and note your unique registration number. The portal will send you an email/SMS confirmation.
6. Log in periodically to track the response status. The CPIO must respond within 30 days from receipt under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act.

By post:

Address your application to the CPIO at the Panchkula headquarters. Enclose an Indian Postal Order (IPO) of ₹10 drawn in favour of "Haryana Public Service Commission". Send by registered post with acknowledgement due (RPAD) so you have proof of delivery. The 30-day response clock runs from the date the CPIO receives the application.

Fee and Timeline

• Application fee: ₹10 under the Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. BPL cardholders are fully exempt.
• Response deadline: 30 days from receipt by the CPIO (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005).
• Life and liberty matters: 48 hours, per the Section 7(1) proviso — not applicable to typical HPSC exam queries.
• Additional charges: If HPSC provides documents, it may charge for additional pages beyond the first (typically ₹2 per page for photocopies under the RTI Rules). The first 30 minutes of inspection is free.

First Appeal: Section 19(1)

If the CPIO fails to respond within 30 days, provides an incomplete or unsatisfactory response, wrongly claims a Section 8 exemption, or transfers the application to a wrong authority:

• File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within HPSC.
• The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of the CPIO's decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.
• No fee is payable for the First Appeal.
• In your First Appeal, state the application registration number, the date it was received, the specific information sought, the nature of the CPIO's failure or deficiency, and the specific relief you seek.
• If HPSC refused to provide your interview marks or evaluated answer script citing confidentiality or fiduciary relationship, cite CBSE and Another v. Aditya Bandopadhyay and Others (2011) 8 SCC 497 in your appeal. This Supreme Court ruling binds all public authorities and forecloses any confidentiality defence for concluded examinations.
• The FAA must dispose of the First Appeal within 30 days of receipt, extendable to 45 days with reasons recorded in writing.

Second Appeal: Haryana State Information Commission (HSIC)

If the FAA's response is also absent, incomplete, or unsatisfactory, the next and final step within the RTI framework is a Second Appeal to the Haryana State Information Commission (HSIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act.

• The Second Appeal must be filed within 90 days of the date of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's response deadline. HSIC has discretion to condone delays for sufficient cause.
• HSIC is the independent quasi-judicial authority constituted under Section 15 of the RTI Act for all Haryana state public authorities. It hears second appeals and complaints against public authorities in Haryana, including HPSC.
• No fee is payable for the Second Appeal.
• HSIC will issue notice to both you and HPSC's CPIO, may hold a hearing, and pass an order directing HPSC to disclose the withheld information.

Section 20 penalty: Under Section 20 of the RTI Act, HSIC has the power to impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to a maximum of ₹25,000) on the CPIO personally for failure to furnish information without reasonable cause. HSIC may also recommend disciplinary proceedings against the erring official. Specifically invoking Section 20 in your Second Appeal petition puts the CPIO on notice that personal financial penalties are at stake, which often accelerates compliance.

It is critical to note: Second appeals against HPSC always go to HSIC, not to CIC. The Central Information Commission's jurisdiction is strictly limited to Central Government bodies. HPSC is a Haryana state constitutional body — its second appeals are decided exclusively by HSIC.

Practical Tips for HPSC RTI Applications

Cite the advertisement number precisely: HPSC conducts multiple recruitments in a year. Always include the exact advertisement number (Advt. No.) in your application — for example, "Advt. No. 5/2024 for HCS (Ex. Br.) & Other Allied Services Examination". This prevents HPSC from claiming ambiguity.

File as soon as results are declared: Answer scripts and evaluation records are not retained indefinitely. File your RTI for Mains answer scripts within a few months of the Mains result announcement to ensure the records still exist.

Cite CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay for answer scripts and interview marks: Whenever requesting your evaluated answer booklet or interview marks, include the citation: CBSE and Another v. Aditya Bandopadhyay and Others (2011) 8 SCC 497. This pre-empts refusal on grounds of confidentiality and signals to the CPIO that you are aware of the binding legal precedent.

Request BC-A and BC-B separately in reservation roster queries: Haryana's dual Backward Class categories (BC-A and BC-B) mean that a generic "OBC roster" request may be ambiguous. Specifically ask for the BC-A roster and BC-B roster separately to get a complete and accurate picture.

Specify the set/code for answer key requests: HPSC Preliminary Examinations often use multiple question paper sets (A, B, C, D). State the set or code of your question paper when requesting the answer key to ensure you receive the relevant key.

Keep copies of all filings and responses: Retain copies of your application, proof of payment, registration number, and every response or acknowledgement you receive. This documentation chain is essential for the appeal process.

Combine related requests in one application but keep them focused: You can ask multiple questions about the same examination in a single RTI application, saving the ₹10 fee. However, do not mix requests from different examinations or different advertisement numbers in one application — HPSC may partially transfer or reject the application if it covers unrelated subjects.

Follow up on transfers: If HPSC's CPIO transfers your application to another public authority (e.g., a Haryana government department), note the transfer date. The clock for the receiving authority runs from the date of transfer, but you must track this independently as the original portal entry may not update automatically.