Several candidates who took part in the Bombay High Court clerk recruitment typing test staged a demonstration in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Sunday, August 16, 2026. They were joined by CJP convenor Abhijeet Dipke and alleged technical failures and server problems during the online exam.
Dipke claimed that many candidates were marked as failed through no fault of their own and called for the test to be held again.
A statement from the Bombay High Court registrar (personnel) said the typing exam ran smoothly overall, though some technical issues occurred at certain centres, mainly in Aurangabad and Kalyan. The statement added that any problems linked to the agency running the process were under review and that candidates would receive official updates on next steps.
Candidates reported that computers stopped working, with screens turning yellow and keyboards failing. They feared missing the exam and demanded a fresh test.
About 2,900 candidates from Marathwada and Vidarbha sat for the exam at centres in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, while roughly 13,000 candidates across Maharashtra were eligible for the three sessions covering 1,300 posts for the Nagpur and Aurangabad benches.
The reported disruption took place during the 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. session.
Dipke visited the Surananagar centre after hearing about the issues and spoke with affected candidates. He noted that aspirants had come from Beed, Ambajogai, Amravati, Latur and other areas.
Dipke told reporters that some computers did not work properly, with mice and keyboards failing or screens going blank. Candidates were logged out within ten minutes. He described the situation as a system and government failure, not a candidate failure.
He said officials dismissed complaints by claiming candidates did not know how to take the exam. Dipke questioned why proper computers and working keyboards were not installed in advance and why servers were not checked.
He noted that many candidates had travelled long distances and prepared for six to seven months. He asked what they would tell their families after receiving failure notices due to server issues.
Dipke called for an immediate written notice announcing a re-examination on different computers. He said the district court judge at the centre should address candidates and give written assurance of a re-test.
Dipke stated he would stay with the protesters until their demands were met. He criticised online exams in general, saying authorities should not conduct them without ensuring working equipment. He linked the incident to wider infrastructure problems in education.
Dipke stressed that candidates should not be penalised for technical failures.
