Umamageswari Maruthappan
While hearing the plea seeking an extra attempt for the civil service aspirants, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to postpone the publication of any new notification for the year 2021 until the matter is heard.
The Government was asked by the Apex Court to file an affidavit with respect to the Department of Personnel Training’s statement of not permitting an extra chance.
The Counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Shyam Divan updated the Court about the reception of the affidavit and requested to permit the petitioner to file a reply by 27th January 2021.
Accordingly, the case was adjourned till 28th January 2021.
A Bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, B R Gavai and Krishna Murai heard the petition filed by a civil service aspirant, Rachna Singh, who had sought an extra attempt for civil service aspirants who otherwise had their last attempt in 2020.
It was pleaded that many aspirants found it difficult to prepare for the exam effectively due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. While some had not gotten the opportunity to appear for the same. The pandemic relatively affected more those aspirants whose last attempt was in 2020.
Earlier, in September 2020, the Supreme Court while rejecting a plea which requested the Court to cancel the conduction of the Civil Service preliminary exam on 4th October 2020, nevertheless, had directed the Central Government to consider giving an extra attempt to relevant aspirants.
After the Government’s acknowledgement in October 2020, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also stated, in December 2020, that the matter of giving an extra chance is under consideration and a decision in this regard will be pronounced within three to four weeks.
However, on 22nd January 2021, the Department of Personnel and Training through its Counsel, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, submitted that “they are not ready to give one more chance.”
Following the submissions of the ASG, the Apex Court had directed the Government to file an affidavit.
The current limit for attempting civil service exams is 6 attempts for general category until 32 years, 9 attempts for OBC till 35 years and for SC/ST till 37 years.
The decision in this matter is to be effectively taken by the Central Government, the Union Public Service Commission and the Department of Personnel and Training.