The Supreme Court has asked for a second chance for desirous UPSC candidates. The Supreme Court has asked the central government why the UPSC candidates who lost their last attempt due to COVID in 2020 should not be given another chance. A bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Krishna Murari asked the Additional Solicitor General SV Raju to inform by 1st February 2021 how many candidates would appear one-time examination exemption was granted.
The court also questioned how many times this has been done since establishing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The court told SV Raju, “This is only a one-time exemption, and if it has been done before, then why can’t it be done this time.” The Supreme Court asked the Center not to notify about the UPSC examination of 2021 by 1st February.
At the same time, the court said that it is not asking to increase the age limit of the candidates, but a one-time exemption is being requested for those whose chances have expired. Senior Advocate Shyam Dewan and Advocate Anushree P Kapadia appeared on behalf of the petitioner Rachna and others, asking for another chance in UPSC Civil Services Examination for those candidates who could not appear for the examination in 2020 due to COVID.
The court questioned the central government on the affidavit filed by it in the UPSC civil examination case, not stating at which level it was decided that second chance for desirous UPSC candidates will not be given.
