UPSC Extra Chance For Last Attempt Candidates : Supreme Court Reserves Judgment [LIVE UPDATES]

Divan: It’s not that we are saying that “give us a job or give us a remuneration or something”. We’re only saying that give us one attempt which we lost in 2020. The overwhelming circumstances of the pandemic which impacted society.

Divan: Attempts and age-bar is a matter of policy. Courts usually don’t interfere because the government gives a wide berth to altering the policy. 

Divan: These are some of the circumstances. And then we’ve elaborated some of the circumstances as to why they weren’t able to study. 

Divan: Coaching classes were also not there. Plus, because of the pandemic, there was disruption in their homes. Then many were frontline workers who had to be at the frontline, duty-bound both by law and their conscience.

Divan: We believe that 2020 ought not to be reckoned at all. I’ll just enumerate the difficulties. One of them is the access to material. The material available on the internet is not sufficient at all.

Divan: There have been instances in the past when rules have changed and they are being hit because there is a total number of attempts or there is an age bar. They are from different categories and there are different parameters. 

Divan: What they feel is that in the 2020 exam, they were unable to put in their best. The basic point they’re making is that they are entitled to another chance. 

Divan: Essentially what has happened is that the Petitioner before your Lordships as well as the supporting Intervenors are all persons who have been anxious to appear in the Civil services examination.

ASG SV Raju appears, along with Sr. Adv. Shyam Divan. Divan begins his submissions. 

Matter has commenced.