The Delhi High Court today (October 8) has issued a notice to the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) seeking response on a petition challenging a recent
notification banning individuals from discussing SSC question papers on social media platforms. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked the SSC the reason behind putting such a gag on discussion on question papers of recruitment exams. "You can’t put such a gag order. What is this? You can’t discuss an exam paper? How can you issue such a notification? After coming out of the examination hall, the first thing, at least we used to do in our days, was to discuss the paper," the Court remarked, as per Bar and Bench. The Court has now given the Commission to file its response within three days.
What was the 'gag order'?
In a notification issued on September 9, SSC had warned candidates and aspirants against discussing, analysing or circulating contents of question papers of ongoing/ held SSC examinations on social media.
The SSC has warned that any leakage, possession, or dissemination of exam question papers or answer keys is prohibited under Section 3 – Unfair Means of the PEA Act, 2024. Offences under Section 9 are cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. Section 10 – Penalties allows imprisonment of 3–5 years and fines up to Rs 10 lakh for individuals, fines up to Rs 1 crore and disqualification for institutions or service providers, and 5–10 years’ imprisonment with fines of at least Rs 1 crore for organised crime participants. SSC has cautioned content creators, social media platforms, and individuals against sharing or discussing exam papers, warning of strict legal action, and urged all stakeholders to maintain exam integrity.
This notice received immense backlash from aspirants, and many termed it as 'dictatorship', and others questioned if it is violation of 'right to speech'.
The matter will now be heard in November.
SSC, Staff Selection Commission, is an Indian government organisation that recruits staff for various ministries and departments of the Central Government. This commission is an attached office of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) which consists of chairman, two members and a secretary-cum-controller of examinations
