UPSC civil services exam or Additional attempt not possible Centre tells SC
Categories: US Education News
UPSC civil services examination: The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that additional attempt in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil services examination is “not possible”. The apex court is hearing a plea filed by three aspirants who had cleared the UPSC 2021 prelims exam but could not appear in all papers of the main exam after testing positive for COVID-19 and are now seeking an extra attempt to appear in the exams. “We have filed an affidavit. Additional attempts are not possible. We have considered that,” Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A S Oka.
The UPSC civil services examination had recently told the top court there is no provision for holding re-examination in case a candidate fails to appear in the test on the scheduled date for any reasons, including ailment or accident incapacitating him to take the exam. It said the matter of compensatory/extra attempt has been adjudicated by the apex court in the past against the plea of hardships faced by the aspirants due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was not granted. The affidavit referred to the judgement and order passed by the top court last year in February and July 2021 on separate pleas.
It said after the July last year order, a number of representations were received in the DoPT putting forth the same demand of compensatory/extra attempt.“It will also impinge on the chances of other candidates who are eligible as per the existing provisions because it will increase the number of candidates competing with such candidates. It will also lead to the similar demands by the candidates of other examinations conducted all over the country,” it said. The affidavit said the existing age range for admission to CSE is 21 to 32 years with relaxation for certain categories of candidates and the permissible number of attempts is also six with relaxations for certain categories of candidates.
The petitioners have said they did not fail to appear in the examination on their own volition and were forced not to appear in view of the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare which specifically require a person affected by COVID-19 to undergo mandatory quarantine and isolation.
They have said that previously in 2014 and 2015, DoPT gave additional attempt due to sudden change in the syllabus.The rejoinder affidavit, filed by advocate Shashank Singh, said the petitioners are entitled to a compensatory attempt in place of their missed last attempt due to COVID-19 and absence of policy for them. The petitioners have said that they tested positive for COVID-19 in the RTPCR test reports dated January 13, 14 and January 6 respectively.
The plea has said the petitioners could not take the UPSC civil services examination mains examination after testing positive for COVID-19 and owing to the restrictions imposed under the strict quarantine guidelines of the government. “The petitioners are approaching this court under Article 32 and seeking a direction to the Respondent/ UPSC civil services examination to extend them an additional (extra) attempt to appear in the examination or in alternate, make some arrangement to appear in the rest of papers which the petitioners could not give before the publication of result of civil service mains examination 2021,” the plea said. It claimed that absence of policy and no arrangement to accommodate COVID-19 positive petitioners to appear in the civil service mains examination 2021 have violated their rights, including that of under Article 14 (equality before law) of the Constitution of India.
SC/ST classifications competitors are permitted limitless endeavors in the event that they are generally qualified till they accomplish the reasonable loosened up age limit. The UPSC civil services examination recommends the quantity of endeavors as six overall and gives unwinding to certain classes, which incorporates applicants who have a place with the Booked Stations.
In the conference, the Middle let the High Court know that it isn't achievable to change the current arrangements in regards to the quantity of endeavors and age limit in regard of the common administrations assessment. In this manner, the interest for an additional endeavor can't be engaged. A nd No, an endeavor is counted provided that an up-and-comer has showed up in no less than one paper in the Common Administrations (Starter) Assessment.
If a candidate fail in the UPSC civil services examination, they may reapply the next year. Up to a competitor is qualified, there is no limitation on the times they can take the UPSC test