Supreme Court to hear plea seeking extra attempt in UPSC main exam 2022 on March 21

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today has granted the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) two weeks time to take instructions in a plea by aspirants who exhausted their last attempt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The top court will now hear the matter on March 21, 2022, the Live Law reported.

Three aspirants, who cleared the UPSC 2021 prelims exam but could not appear in all papers of the UPSC Main exam held last month (January) after testing positive for COVID-19, have approached the Supreme Court seeking an extra attempt to appear in the exams.

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“Also, there was absence of any kind of policy of UPSC which could provide arrangements for such petitioners who were COVID positive during the span of mains examination or before it,” it said.

It claimed that the absence of policy and no arrangement to accommodate COVID-19 positive petitioners to appear in the civil service mains examination 2021 have violated their rights, including that of under Article 14 (equality before law) of the Constitution of India.

On February 23, the Supreme Court dismissed seeking an extra chance for UPSC civil services exam held in October 2020 citing difficulties faced in preparations during the pandemic. The Centre had also informed the top court on February 9 that it is against granting one-time relaxation on age limit to UPSC civil service aspirants, including those who had exhausted their last attempt in the 2020 exam amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as it would be discriminatory to other candidates.

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The candidates from the general category are allowed six attempts for the UPSC civil services exam till the age of 32; the OBC, nine attempts till 35 years and the SC, ST candidates unlimited attempts till they turn 37.

However, the Centre had on February 5 told the apex court that it was agreeable to giving an extra chance as a one-time relaxation to those civil service aspirants who had appeared in their last attempt in the 2020 exam and are not age-barred.

(With inputs from PTI)