UPSC 2020 Preliminaries: Not Postponed! SC refuses to delay IAS exam, asks UPSC to consider additional attempt option

The Supreme Court has refused to postpone the Union Public Service Commission, UPSC Civil Service Prelims 2020 scheduled for October 4, 2020. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court to further postpone the IAS examination due to the outbreak of COVID 19. SC noted that SOPs have been followed in several recent public examinations and special requests have been denied. However, you have accepted requests for age limit considerations and last attempt. Take a look at the details of the SC’s decision below

UPSC 2020 Preliminaries: Not Postponed! Explanation of SC’s decision

The order reads: “Considering the fact that examinations have been conducted in the recent past, it is a testament to the fact that the MHA follows the SOP to conduct such examinations. The petitioners have not ascertained the lack of means of transportation in all centers.. “

He also added: “An additional attempt is sought for those who are making the last attempt as they may not be able to come forward due to the pandemic. In this regard, we have insisted on ASG Raju to explore the possibility of giving them one more try. . to said exams without increasing the age limit “. UPSC said concessions regarding age can only be made for those who are on their last attempt and / or about to cross the age limit and cannot be made available to others as agreed to by the higher court.

The higher court noted that “every year some problems arise. As environmental issues, etc., and this is not a case of students who are going to appear, these must be public servants and must act like that. Get out of your shell and comfort zone. “

The Supreme Court asked the petitioners to reason and be persuasive, not aggressive. The court said: “It is for 10 lakh people and you cannot customize the area or the individual. We have seen the affidavit from UPSC. They have said that all the arrangements have been made. They will consider further arrangements. But it should not be retained by some students who are not logical. ” The following are the arguments of the petitioners and the SC Commission on the case. Related article | UPSC Prelims 2020 Will the date be postponed? The Supreme Court will hear the guilty plea today – Live updates

UPSC 2020 Preliminaries: What the Petitioners Said

On behalf of the petitioners, Adv. Anushree Kapadia today asked the high court to consider merging the preliminary examinations UPSC 2020 and UPSC 2021. UPSC 2021 is scheduled for June 27, 2020.

The petitioners raised the issue of the lack of means of transportation and the case of the crown warriors who could not attend the examination, to which the Court said, “If there are 10 out of 10 lakhs, then the doctrine must be taken into account. of proportionality. Their significant number we can ask the authorities to consider them “. The higher court was also not very convinced with the transportation reasoning, as that is not a problem in all cities, he said. Adv. Kaushik had responded to this that letters had already been written to the Secretaries-in-Chief of State to ensure an optimal public transport facility on October 3-4, 2020. The President of the Railway Board had also been asked to issue the proper instructions.

The petitioners had previously filed a counter-affidavit in the superior court that read as follows:

1. No response was given to the plight of the UPSC applicants, who are working as front-line CROWN WARRIORS, doctors, defense personnel, pregnant women, administrative officers, etc.
2. No response was given to the difficult situation of applicants to the last attempt
3. No response was given to the point of: “Lack of level playing field”
4. Many states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, AP, Rajasthan, etc. have postponed their public service exams and judicial services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Petitioners seeking postponement of the UPSC Prelims 2020 exam have argued that the situation has created a divide that contradicts the level playing field rule. Also, they have pointed out that many states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, AP, Rajasthan, etc. have postponed their public service exams and judicial services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read also | UPSC Prelims 2020: SC asks UPSC to answer why IAS, IPS Exams cannot be postponed, to hear the matter on September 30

UPSC Prelims 2020: what UPSC had to say

Representing UPSC on the Supreme Court, attorney Naresh Kaushik reported that the commission had not received any complaints from the candidates regarding any disability they faced. Furthermore, requests had been received not to postpone the examination any longer. He also noted that there are 6 chances to appear on the exam.

Representing UPSC in the Supreme Court, attorney Naresh Kaushik said it was almost impossible to postpone the exam that had previously been scheduled for May 31 and was later changed. He noted that the exam was supposed to take place on September 30, but was later postponed to October 4. Postponing the exam again would now defeat the goal of taking the exam for various government departments, according to the lawyer. Read also | UPSC CSE Prelims 2020 – Less than Two Weeks to IAS Exam – Important Topics Needing Your Attention

While the UPSC confirmed that separate arrangements have been made at all centers, the bank that agreed with the attorney noted that medical protocol dictates that the patient must be quarantined. When it was argued that a patient was allowed to appear for CLAT, the bank said: “That was an exception and not the norm. Does medical protocol dictate that you must stay home and want me to break it?”

Also in an answer filed in court, UPSC said delaying the already late UPSC Prelims 2020 exam would also affect the UPSC Prelims 2021 exam. The exam will take place on June 27 of next year. As a practice, the final results of the UPSC Civil Services exam will be released prior to the UPSC Prelims exam for next year. The whole process would be delayed like this.

At the last hearing, the judge, AM Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna were part of the two-judge tribunal that heard the statement. The court had allowed the petitioner to deliver an advance copy of the petition to the permanent attorney of the UPSC, as well as to the central agency representing the Union of India.