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UPSC Exams : Additional Attempts In Mains Not Possible, Centre Tells Supreme Court On Plea By Candidates Who Missed Exam Due To COVID

Mehal Jain

25 March 2022 1:02 PM IST

    • UPSC Exams : Additional Attempts In Mains Not Possible, Centre Tells Supreme Court On Plea By Candidates Who Missed Exam Due To COVID

    On a petition by three civil services aspirants, who missed out the papers of the UPSC Civil Services Main Examination due to COVID-19 seeking additional attempt to appear in the exam, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati for the Union of India on Friday informed the Supreme Court that on consideration, additional attempts are found not to be possible and that an affidavit stating...

    On a petition by three civil services aspirants, who missed out the papers of the UPSC Civil Services Main Examination due to COVID-19 seeking additional attempt to appear in the exam, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati for the Union of India on Friday informed the Supreme Court that on consideration, additional attempts are found not to be possible and that an affidavit stating that position has been filed.

    "Additional attempts are not possible. We have considered that. After the last hearing, the petitioners have submitted representations and they were considered. We have filed the affidavit yesterday", the ASG told the bench of Justices A. M. Khanwilkar and A. S. Oka.
    On the last occasion, the ASG had submitted that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) will have to take a call on additional attempts. 
    Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, for the petitioners, also told the bench that the petitioners have also filed their rejoinder to the UPSC's counter this morning.
    Adjourning the matter to Monday, the bench passed its order directing the registry to verify that the Union of India has filed its counter affidavit yesterday and that the rejoinder has been filed by the petitioners this morning, requiring the copies thereof to be circulated.
    Responding to a plea by civil service aspirants seeking extra chance in Mains exam as they could not appear for the same due to COVID-related issues, the Union Public Service Commission's (UPSC) has told the Supreme Court that there is no provision for holding re-examination in case a candidate fails to appear in the examination on the scheduled date for any reason including any ailment or accident incapacitating him or her to take the examination.

    The affidavit has been filed by Joint Secretary, Examination Branch, UPSC in the petition preferred by civil services aspirants who missed out the papers of the UPSC Civil Services Main Examination due to COVID-19.

    "That the Commission usually holds 13 examinations apart from several Recruitment Tests during a year. In respect of these examinations, there is no provision for holding re-examination in case a candidate(s) fails to appear in the examination on the scheduled date(s) for any reason including any ailment/accident incapacitating him or her to take the examination. In past, the Commission has not held any re-examination under similar circumstances," the affidavit states.

    Case Title: Arjit Shukla and Ors. v. Union of India and Anr.


    Tags
    Supreme CourtUPSC Civil Service ExaminationCOVID 19Civil Service AspirantUPSC Extra Attempt
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