Mitali Palnitkar
Published on: March 7, 2022 at 18:14 IST
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was granted two weeks time by the Supreme Court to respond to the Petition filed by 3 Civil Services Aspirants, who missed out the Civil Services Main Examination conducted by the Commission due to Covid-19 and sought additional attempt to appear in the Exam.
The Bench comprised Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar. It deferred the matter for March 21, 2022 and directed the parties to File Affidavit before the next Hearing.
Advocate Naresh Kaushik appearing for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) stated, “This is an issue which is very complicated. Give me 2 weeks to take instructions on the same. This is done as per the rules. Union is also there.”
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan appearing for the Petitioner stated that the interviews are scheduled to take place in April. He sought that UPSC shall respond within days or lesser time so that there can be accommodation for the Petitioners in the interview.
The Petition was Filed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Aspirants who cleared the 2021 Prelims Examination and were entitled to appear for Mains Examination from January 7 to January16, 2022.
The Petition stated that Petitioner 1 and 2 had to leave the Exam after appearing for initial two papers. Petitioner 3 could not appear for any of the papers after getting infected with Covid-19.
It was argued by the Petitioners that the absence of a Policy of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) which could provide arrangements for Covid Positive aspirants to take the Mains Examination during the span of the Exam or before it was Violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Indian Constitution.
The Petitioners had also sought Relief to make arrangements so as to enable them to appear for the rest of papers. However, this was not done before Publishing the Results of Civil Services Mains Examination 2021.
In July 2021, the Supreme Court had refused to direct the Centre and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to grant one-time Age-Relaxation to the candidates who failed to appear for the 2020 Examination due to Covid-19.
The Bench consisting Justices AM Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna had given Liberty to candidates to submit representations before concerned Authorities seeking an extra attempt. It urged the Authorities to take Lenient view in light of the Pandemic.
Also Read: M.V. Thimmaiah Vs UPSC (2008) 2 SCC 119
Supreme Court: UPSC Candidates have no Liberty to Allocate Cadre of Choice