[CSE-2020 Postponement] Civil Services (Prelims) Examination 2021 Will Be Delayed Too, If CSE-2020 Is Postponed Any Further: UPSC Tells SC [Read Affidavit]

Plea Seeking Postponement Of UPSC Civil Service Examination [Live Updates From Supreme Court]

A Bench comprising of Justices AM Khanwilkar, BR Gavai and Krishna Murari directed Advocate Naresh Kaushik, appearing on behalf of the Union Public Service Commission, to file an Affidavit by Tuesday (29^th September), and listed the plea for the day after (30^th September).

On 28^th September, Senior Advocate VK Shukla, appearing for 20 UPSC aspirants, had informed the Bench that a copy had been served to the opposing counsel.

Naresh Kaushik, appearing for UPSC, then submitted to the Bench that it would be impossible to agree with the contentions of the Petitioners as postponement would hurt the process of recruitment.

Further, UPSC had already considered the issue and had deferred it once.

The Bench then asked Kaushik to file a short Affidavit listing down the logistical reasons for not postponing.

Counter Affidavit filed by UPSC

By filing a Counter Affidavit, the Union Public Service Commission has informed the Supreme Court that it is imperative that the vacancies in the services are filled up in time so that the public services do not suffer due to lack of manpower in the right place at the right time.

Further, it has been specifically pleaded that the Commission has decided to hold Civil Services Examination on October 4 and that the exam cannot be deferred further on the account of COVID19 as it would further lead to the postponement of the next year's prelims too, which has been scheduled for June 27, 2021.

The Affidavit mentions that the CSE (Prelims) date has been decided by the Commission (October 4) after examining the feasibility to postpone the examination to the maximum extent keeping in view various factors including the examination to be held in the year 2021 and that this date cannot be delayed any further now.

The Affidavit states that due to the postponement of Civil Services (Prelims) Examination 2020, the Main (Written) parts of both these examinations have to be shifted to 2021.

Any further postponement of the Civil Services (Prelims) examination, 2020 will not only impact the examinations which are lined up due to the remaining part of the current year but will also entail further rescheduling of both the aforesaid Main examination as also the 2^nd stage examination of other examinations including their interviews, thereby impacting the examination calendar of the year 2020 as well as 2021.

Also, this would further delay the declaration of results of these examinations and thereby adversely affecting the availability of manpower at critical posts of the Government.

Further, the Affidavit also states that the Civil Services (Prelims) Examination for the 2021, which is scheduled to be held on 27/06/2021, has been scheduled after taking into account all possible factors including the climate/weather conditions of the Country.

Hence, it has been argued that its (CSE 2021) scheduling has already been delayed and would get adversely affected further in case of again postponing 2020 Preliminary examination, which has been fixed for 04/10/2020 after considering all the factors.

Most importantly, it has been submitted that the commission has already completed most of the preparatory actions for holding the CSE (prelims) on 04^th October 2020.

It has been stated that the E-Admit cards for the CS (P) Examination have already been uploaded on the Commission's website on 01/09/2020. As on date 28/09/2020, at 5 pm 687648 candidates have already downloaded the E-admit Card.

It is pertinent to note that in the affidavit it has been stated that the Commission has incurred an expenditure of Rs. 50.39 Crores (approx.), which included committed liabilities of around Rs. 16.09 Crores in order to facilitate the logistical preparations for the conduct of examination and the postponement of the Examination would cause a huge loss to the public exchequer.

Lastly, it has been submitted that the right to equality would imply that a candidate who wishes to appear in CS (P) Exam 2020 must be allowed to appear similar to previous years examinations.

Further, it has been mentioned in the Affidavit that in accordance with the Right to Health of the Candidates and their escorts (if any) have to take due precautions as detailed in instructions of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Commission's instructions and thereby eliminate the risk themselves.

Click Here To Download Affidavit

[Read Affidavit]