Patna High Court
Ranjan KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- AJIT KUMAR
Holding
The court directed the petitioner to file a detailed representation within a week and the BSEB to adjudicate the objections within two weeks, thereby disposing the writ application.
Summary
The petitioner, Ranjan Kumar, filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) to consider his objection form and rectify alleged errors in the answer key of the Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test 2025. He claimed that despite providing authoritative answers, he was awarded only 57 marks and that the board had not applied the normalization process advertised in PR 218/2025. The BSEB argued that the petitioner should first file a detailed representation as per the court's earlier order before the board can adjudicate the objections. The court held that the matter should not remain pending and directed the petitioner to submit a comprehensive representation within one week, after which the board must decide the objections within two weeks. Accordingly, the writ application was disposed of without granting a mandamus.
Issues considered
- Whether the BSEB is duty-bound to consider the petitioner's objection form and issue a revised answer key for the STET 2025.
- Whether the petitioner must file a detailed representation before the board can adjudicate the objections.
- Whether a writ of mandamus can be issued directing the board to rectify the answer key and apply normalization.
Subjects
- writ of mandamus
- objection form
- Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test
- answer key
- normalization
- Bihar School Examination Board
- representation
- adjudication
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2243 of 2026
======================================================
Ranjan Kumar Son of Kuber Ram, Resident of Village-Bilaspur, P.O.-
Sadokhar, P.S.-Chenari, District-Rohtas, Bihar.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through Additional Chief Secretary, Department of
Education, Bihar, Patna.
2. Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Education, Bihar, Patna.
3. The Chairman, Bihar School Examination Board, Sinha Library Road,
Buddh Marg, Patna, Bihar-800017.
4. The Secretary, Bihar School Examination Board, Sinha Library Road,
Buddh Marg, Patna, Bihar-800017.
5. The Examination Controller, Bihar School Examination Board, Sinha
Library Road, Buddh Marg, Patna, Bihar-800017.
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Mrityunjay Kumar, Advocate
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Additional Advocate General (4)
For the BSEB : Mr. P. K. Shahi, Sr. Advocate
Mr. Vipin Kumar, Advocate
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AJIT KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
2 10-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and
learned counsel for the respondents.
2.The instant writ application has been filed for the
following relief:-
a) For issuance of a writ of Mandamus or
any other appropriate writ/writs, order/orders, or
direction/directions to the Respondent Board to
consider the submission of the Objection Form
raised by the Petitioner through Official Portal in
Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test (STET)- 2025
conducted by Bihar School Examination Board
(BSEB).
b) For a direction to Respondent Board to
Patna High Court CWJC No.2243 of 2026(2) dt.10-02-2026
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consider the Objection and rectify the anomalies in
the evaluation process of the said test.
c) For a direction to Respondent Board to
provide Revised Answer Key of the Petitioner after
considering her Objection Form.
d) For further pass any other order/orders in
shape of consequential relief to the Petitioner may
be found to legally entitled to in the facts and
circumstances of the instant case.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
despite this petitioner having given authoritative answers to the
questions, still he has secured 57 marks and raised objections
with respect to 9 questions with authoritative answer since the
Answer key provided by the respondent-Board was incorrect but
still, such objections have not been adjudicated.
4. It is next submitted that even the principles of
normalization, which also forms part of the advertisement no.
PR 218/2025, appears not to have been invoked in the case of
the petitioner.
5. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing on
behalf of the Bihar School Examination Board, submits that
since the appropriate representation with objections have
already been filed, the petitioner may be directed to file a
detailed representation in the light of the order passed by this
Court and, on filing of such representation within the time so
fixed, the same shall be adjudicated and necessary order shall be
Patna High Court CWJC No.2243 of 2026(2) dt.10-02-2026
3/3
passed and, if the petitioner is found eligible then further action
shall be taken. Learned counsel for the B.S.E.B. further submits
that the experts have already been employed for adjudicating the
objections and once such objections are there, the same shall be
adjudicated.
6. Considering the submissions of the parties, this
Court is of the view that instead of keeping this matter pending,
the petitioner be directed to file representation with all such
details for adjudication within a period of one week, referring to
his earlier representation, which is said to have been filed and,
even the issues of normalization in terms of the advertisement
may also be raised, if the same has not been raised for
consideration by the authorities concerned.
7. On filing of such representation by the petitioner,
the same shall be adjudicated within a period of two weeks from
the date of filing along with a copy of the order.
8. With the aforesaid observation and direction, the
writ application stands disposed of.
(Ajit Kumar, J)
sharun/-
U
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