Umamageswari Maruthappan
The Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar questioned the level at which the affidavit was filed by the Centre in the case relating to extra chance to Civil Service aspirants.
On 28th January 2021, the Bench was hearing the petition seeking to provide an extra attempt to those aspirants whose last attempt otherwise was in 2020.
The Apex Court had sought an affidavit from the Centre and a reply from the petitioner on the affidavit. It had also asked the Centre and the UPSC to not release notification for 2021 until the matter is heard.
Following the submission of the Affidavit, the Top Court seemed to not be so satisfied as the same was acknowledged and signed by a subordinate officer. The Court expressed its displeasure to Additional Solicitor General S V Raju and directed to file a proper affidavit.
It says nothing about at whose level this decision has been taken. It should have been taken at the highest level. It is a policy decision and a one-time exemption. It’s a routine Affidavit. Is this the way to do it? You should present something that is presentable. File this properly”, said the Court.
Also, during the hearing, Senior Advocate CU Singh, Counsel for the petitioner, contended that the government was not giving any clarity to the aspirants in this issue. “No clarity had been given on this issue by the government. So, those who had not been able to prepare due to the circumstances, were forced to give it,” he stated.
The matter has been postponed to 29th January 2021 for next hearing.
A petition was filed before the Apex Court to seek directions for allowing the UPSC Civil Service aspirants, whose last attempt had ended in 2020, to give an additional chance in the forthcoming exam.
It was pleaded, that the Covid-19 pandemic had made it very difficult for the aspirants to effectively prepare for the exam. Thus, another attempt in this light could possibly help them from being prejudiced against other aspirants.
The Centre, the Department of Personnel Training and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is maintaining an opaqueness in the tussle. With the interference of the Apex Court, the Centre made mixed responses.
The Court nonetheless directed the Centre to make a decision on this issue “expeditiously”.