TGPSC Suspends Two Officers After 2018 Exam OMR Sheets Found Near Shivrampally

The Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC) suspended two section officers on Monday following an inquiry into old Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) answer sheets that were found scattered along a roadside near Shivrampally along the PVNR Expressway in Hyderabad. In addition to the suspensions, show-cause notices were issued to four other officials, the contractor's work order was cancelled, and an FIR was registered against the contractor for alleged negligence in handling and transporting the records.

The answer sheets were discovered on Saturday night between Pillar Nos. 230 and 240 of the PVNR Expressway near Shivrampally, prompting local police to collect the scattered documents from the site. TGPSC immediately directed its Superintendent of Police to probe how the records ended up in a public space and submit an official report within three days.

According to the Commission, the answer sheets belonged to the 2018 Hostel Welfare Officers recruitment examination. The entire selection process, including the declaration of final results, had been completed by 2020. Under TGPSC regulations, OMR answer sheets are stored for three years after a recruitment process concludes. Once that retention period expires, the documents are identified for disposal and handed over to an authorised contractor to be shredded in accordance with established procedures.

The inquiry established that during the destruction process, a portion of the sheets ended up on the roadside rather than being properly shredded. TGPSC stated that it took serious note of the procedural lapse and examined the specific circumstances under which the records were mishandled during transit.

The Commission assured the public that because the records pertained to a recruitment exercise finished several years ago, the incident would have no impact on any ongoing or future recruitment examinations. It further stated that record disposal and destruction procedures will be strengthened to ensure strict compliance and prevent similar incidents going forward.