Patna High Court
Arbind KumarversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- AJIT KUMAR
Holding
The Court declined to issue a mandamus and instead directed the petitioners to file fresh representations and the Board to issue a reasoned order within stipulated timeframes.
Summary
A group of candidates for the Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) 2025 filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) to consider their objection forms submitted through the official portal, rectify alleged evaluation anomalies, and issue a revised answer key. The petitioners argued that the Board had released the answer key on 24-11-2025 and allowed objections, yet failed to act on their submissions despite representations made to the Examination Controller. The High Court noted the Board’s inaction and, rather than issuing a mandamus, directed the petitioners to file fresh representations within two weeks and required the Board to pass a reasoned order on the objections within four weeks. The Court thereby disposed of the writ application with these procedural directions. The decision underscores the duty of administrative bodies to consider objections raised through prescribed mechanisms and to provide reasoned decisions.
Issues considered
- Whether the Bihar School Examination Board is legally obligated to consider objection forms filed by candidates under the STET process.
- Whether a writ of mandamus is the appropriate remedy to compel the Board to issue a revised answer key.
- Whether the Board’s failure to act on the objections violates principles of natural justice.
Subjects
- writ of mandamus
- Secondary Teacher Eligibility Test
- Bihar School Examination Board
- objection form
- administrative law
- education
- revision of answer key
- natural justice
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2534 of 2026
======================================================
1. Arbind Kumar son of Suresh Lal Yadav, resident of Village- Basdaha, P.O.-
Mahamdia, P.S.- Dagarua, District- Purnia
2. Ramsagar Kumar Raj Son of Ramchandra Sah, resident of Village-
Bahuarva, P.O.-Parsa, P.S. - Kishanpur, District- Supaul, Bihar
3. Parvati Kumari Daughter of Sunil Chaudhari, resident of Village and P.O.
Sarairanjan, P.S.- Sarairanjan, District- Samastipur, Bihar
4. Vikash Kumar Chodhary son of Shiv Chodhary, resident of Ramjaypal Na-
gar, Arpana Bank Colony, Road No. 12B, P.S.- Rupaspur, Patna, Bihar
5. Sudhanshu Kumar son of Ashok Prasad Singh, resident of Village and P.O.-
Bijuliya, P.S.- Shamho, District- Begusarai, Bihar
6. Niraj Kumar Sharma son of Surendra Sharma, resident of Village- Basti
Sarasikan, P.O.- Kishunpur Telaur, P.S.- Kathara, District- Vaishali, Bihar
7. Alok Kumar son of Amarendra Prasad Yadav, resident of Village- Tal Sehan,
Post- Khaje Chand Chhapra, P.S.- Kathara, District-Vaishali, Bihar
8. Arun Kumar son of Mahendra Bhagat, resident of Village- Tal Sehan, Post-
Khaje Chand Chhapra, P.S.- Kathara, District- Vaishali, Bihar
9. Pintu Kumar son of Sunil Prasad, resident of Village- Bajrachak, P.O. and
P.S. Katrisarai, District- Nalanda
10. Diwakar Kumar son of Ramanand Singh, resident of Village and P.O.- Sub-
hanpur, P.S.- Jairampur, District- Sheikhpura, Bihar
11. Md. Akram son of Rafique Ahmad, resident of Village- Chauri, P.O.-
Dhanchhuhan, P.S.- Chauri, District- Bhojpur, Bihar
12. Saurav Suman son of Vinod Prasad, resident of Bazidpur, Ward No. 4, Be-
hind Suleman Dargah, P.S.- Barh, District- Patna, Bihar
13. Mukul Kumar son of Akhilesh Prasad Singh, resident of Village and Post
Dewan, P.S.-Kadirganj, District- Patna, Bihar
14. Sumitra Kumari daughter of Uday Singh, resident of Village- Gordiha, P.O.-
Sansa, P.S.- Daudnagar, District- Aurangabad, Bihar
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Edu-
cation, 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 Li-
brary Road, Buddh Marg, Patna, Bihar- 800017
... ... Respondent/s
======================================================
Patna High Court CWJC No.2534 of 2026(2) dt.16-02-2026
2/3
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Mrityunjay Kumar
For the Respondent/s : Mr.Government Pleader 11
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AJIT KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
2 16-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the parties.
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
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 the fact the respondent Bihar School Examination Board
has released answer key of the STET-25 on official website of
the Board on 24.11.2025 and allowed the candidates to raise
objections through official website and in the light of the
aforesaid instruction, the petitioners have downloaded their
response/ objection from the official website categorically
stating that they should be given more marks, till date no
decision has been taken.
Patna High Court CWJC No.2534 of 2026(2) dt.16-02-2026
3/3
4. For redressal of the grievance, the petitioners have
also submitted representation(s) before the Examination
Controller, BSEB on 06.01.2026 to 08.01.2026 respectively, the
copies of which have been marked as Annexure-P/6 to the
instant writ petition, however, till date the respondent authorities
are sitting tight over the matter.
5. Considering the grievances of the petitioner and
taking note of the aforesaid facts that the objection of the
petitioner have not been considered and brought to its logical
conclusion, this Court deems it fit and proper to extend liberty
to the petitioners to file fresh representation before the
respondent no.5, preferably within a period of two weeks from
today.
6. On filing such representation, the representation so
filed by the petitioners, the concerned respondent shall pass a
reasoned and speaking order dealing with the objection raised
by the petitioners within a further period of four weeks.
7. With the aforesaid observation and direction, the
writ application stands disposed of.
(Ajit Kumar, J)
shikha/-
U
Checking your session…