Extra chance to civil services aspirants: SC defers hearing to Friday

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 1

The Centre on Monday reiterated before the Supreme Court its stand against granting an extra chance to the civil services aspirants who could not appear or prepare well for their last attempt in the 2020 UPSC exam due to COVID-19 even as it said it needed time to discuss the issue.

A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar deferred the hearing to Friday after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said he would inform the court of the government’s decision.

The top court has been saying if such relaxation was granted in the past, why the government can’t do it one more time. The one-time relaxation will benefit over 3,300 students without even increasing the age-limit, it said.

The Bench had on Friday asked the Centre to explain why a one-time relaxation can’t be given to civil services aspirants who could not appear in their last attempt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s just a one-time relaxation and if it has been done before then why not this time?” it had asked Additional Solicitor General SV Raju.  It had also asked the Centre not to issue any notification for 2021 UPSC examination till February 1.

The Centre has opposed the idea, saying allowing an extra attempt to civil services aspirants who could not appear in their last chance in the 2020 examination due to the COVID-19 situation would create a “cascading effect”, detrimental to the overall functioning and level playing field necessary for a public examination system.

The Centre said such a decision in favour of the petitioners would seriously prejudice other candidates. Giving an additional attempt or relaxation in age for some candidates would amount to extending differential treatment to similarly placed aspirants at the examination.