Bombay HC cancels clerk typing test after glitches, protests

Mumbai, Aug 29 (IANS) The High Court of Judicature at Bombay on Saturday cancelled the Typing Test conducted on August 16, 2026, for the post of Clerk. In an official notice signed by the Registrar (Personnel), the administration said the decision was taken to uphold the “highest standards of fairness in the selection process.” A fresh schedule, venue and further details regarding the re‑examination will be notified separately on the court’s official portal.

The cancellation follows severe disruptions reported during the test held across centres in Maharashtra. Thousands of candidates had appeared for the skill test, a crucial stage in the recruitment process initiated under the advertisement dated December 8, 2025, to fill clerk posts across the Bombay High Court’s principal seat and benches in Nagpur and Aurangabad.

Candidates at centres in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Kalyan, Nanded, Washim and Bhandara reported servers crashing shortly after the exam began. They faced non‑responsive keyboards, faulty mice, frozen display screens and automatic log‑outs within minutes. Applicants said glitches affected the software’s ability to evaluate typed passages, creating panic about fair grading.

The technical failures triggered late‑night sit‑in protests at centres statewide. In Kalyan, over 600 candidates staged demonstrations at the APMC Market centre. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, candidates blocked vehicles and demanded immediate cancellation and a re‑test. Police were deployed to maintain order as political leaders and student organisations joined the protests.

Following mounting protests and reports submitted by the conducting agency acknowledging the disruptions, the High Court administration initiated a review. The formal notification issued on August 29 invalidating the August 16 test has provided relief to thousands of aspirants awaiting a fair opportunity. Candidates have been advised to monitor the official website for the re‑test notification.

Earlier, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar criticised the severe technical mismanagement, highlighting that the contracted agency experienced complete software and server failures. He said computers and keyboards failed at multiple centres, causing thousands of candidates to log out prematurely or miss the exam entirely. Pawar strongly supported the protesting students and demanded a complete re‑examination.

He personally visited the Bombay High Court to meet administrative officials and the Advocate General of Maharashtra, submitted grievances and pushed for immediate legal relief. Following the public and political outcry led by Pawar and student activists, the High Court administration issued an official note acknowledging the breakdowns and announced that the matter was being examined to decide the next course of action.

–IANS

sj/dan