New Delhi: An extra attempt for Covid-affected candidates in the civil services mains exam should be considered, the Supreme Court told the Centre today, giving it two weeks for the job. The Centre has said it will consider the matter in light of a Parliamentary Committee Report. The Mains exam was held in January this year.
The top court's direction came after the petitioners pointed out a Parliamentary Committee Report which recommended grant of relaxations to students affected by the pandemic.
"The petitioners have relied on a Parliamentary Committee Report dated 24.03.2022. In the light of the recommendation, we dispose of the petition with the direction to appropriate authority to examine the representation within a period of two weeks. Let the authority take a decision," said the bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, AS Oka and CT Ravikumar.
The petition was filed by three candidates, who had cleared the Prelims last year, but could not appear for all the papers of Mains exam after they tested positive for Covid. Two of the petitioners had appeared for a few exams before they tested positive. The third could not even write a single paper.
In their plea, they asked the court to direct the of Union Public Service Commission or UPSC to allow them an extra chance since the Commission has granted such similar options to candidates in other examinations in the past.
The Centre and UPSC had opposed the plea, arguing that giving these candidates an extra chance will lead to similar requests by candidates from other categories.
In its response filed in court, the Centre had said a similar plea was rejected by the High Court in the case of the Chartered Accountancy exam. "Granting such an extra attempt will affect the chances of other candidates as it will increase number of candidates," it told the top court.
The UPSC had also opposed the plea, saying it is important to stick to the schedule of exams. Allowing such extra attempts will lead to "complete derailment" of post-examination activities including a continuation of vacancies in the government. It will also create a "cascading effect" on the schedule of other examinations, it said.
Candidates are allowed to take the exam between the age of 21 to 35 and six chances are also given to appear for the same which is a "fair opportunity", the Commission argued.