Won't Be Appropriate To Provide Centres In Manipur For Civil Services Prelims Examination 2024: Manipur Govt Tells Delhi High Court

The Manipur Government on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that given the situation there, it will not be appropriate to provide centres in the State for Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2024, to be held on May 26.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora was dealing with a plea moved by the Zomi Students Federation seeking a direction on the authorities to make alternate and adequate arrangements for tribal candidates from the hill districts in Manipur to enable them to take the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2024, and Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2024.

The counsel appearing for the State of Manipur today handed over a letter to the court written by the State's Chief Secretary stating that given the situation there and to maintain the examination's sanctity, it will not be appropriate to provide centres in the State for UPSC CSE 2024.

The letter suggested that the students from Manipur who are taking the examination may be considered for allotment at the nearest centres outside the State, as was done in 2023.

However, the State of Manipur gave an undertaking to provide monetary assistance for travel to the students outside the State for writing the examination.

Accordingly, the court directed the counsel appearing for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to obtain instructions in the matter and listed it for hearing next on Friday.

The plea also sought a direction on reopening the application portal or window in order to enable the desirous candidates to opt for a centre of their choice in the State of Manipur.

The petition contends that due to the given law and order situation and the geographical and demographic separation in Manipur, it is extremely difficult for the Kuki-Zomi tribal candidates from the Hill districts of the State to travel to Imphal and appear for the examination.

“The failure to provide for adequate alternate arrangements for the candidates belonging to the Kuki-Zomi community will cause grave prejudice to a large number of students who have spent considerable time in preparing for the CSE – Preliminary examinations and will cause them irreparable damage for no fault of theirs,” the plea states.

Title: ZOMI STUDENTS FEDERATION v. UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, THROUGH ITS SECRETARY & ORS.