Impossible to postpone UPSC Prelims 2020, says UPSC; SC hearing on Sep 30

The Supreme Court today heard a petition filed for postponement of UPSC Civil Service Pre Examination 2020. During this time the UPSC said that it is impossible to postpone the examination, because all the logistic arrangements have already been done.

 A 3-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar asked the UPSC to file an affidavit reply to the plea and keep it with the arrangements.

This petition has been filed by 20 UPSC Civil Service candidates. the UPSC Civil Service Examination is to be held on October 4. Earlier on September 24, the court asked advocate Alok Srivastava to give a copy of the petition to the Centre and the Union Public Service Commission. The Supreme Court had issued a notice to the Central Government and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) seeking a reply on a petition seeking the postponement of UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination.

Petitioners across the country told the court that conducting the examination at this time can pose a threat to both the health and safety of the candidates. 6 lakh candidates are expected to appear in this offline examination to be held in 72 cities across the country.

The petition said that in this time of epidemic, conducting offline examinations is nothing more than endangering the lives of millions of young students. The life and health of the petitioners and many other students living in that area have been badly affected due to natural calamities like floods and frequent rains in many states of the country. In such a case, the revised calendar is completely inappropriate. It violates the ‘right to health’ and ‘right to life’ given in Article 21 of the Constitution.

The petition also states that the Civil Services Examination is a recruitment test. This is different from academic examinations. There will be no delay in academic session.

The petition said that despite the fast growing cases of corona infection, UPSC has not increased the examination centers. Due to this, many candidates of rural area will be forced to travel 300-400 km. These candidates are likely to be infected while using public transport.

The UPSC has made it mandatory for the test takers to wear a mask or face cover in the exam. The Commission has said that examinees can also bring sanitizers in transparent bottles. No candidate will be allowed to enter the examination centre without a mask. Examiners will have to follow the rules of covid-19. They also have to follow social distance in campus with examination halls / rooms.

The Court has now asked UPSC to file an affidavit in reply to the plea by tomorrow so that the case can again be taken up on this Wednesday.

By Priya Kumari