‘Further deferment may nullify objective of holding them’
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Monday expressed its reluctance to postpone the civil services exams due on October 4.
Appearing before a Bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, advocate Naresh Kaushik, for the UPSC, said it would not be possible to defer the exams as they had earlier been postponed due to the pandemic. He said any further “deferment may nullify the objective of holding the exams”.
The Bench asked the UPSC to file an affidavit by September 29. It agreed to hear the case again on Wednesday.
The petition, filed by some aspirants, had said the conduct of the exams in the midst of a public health crisis was a violation of their fundamental right to life.
About six lakh candidates are expected to take the exams. With the rate of infection peaking, many students may opt to not take the exams for fear of the contracting the virus, they apprehended. Thus, the right of students to fulfil their professional aspiration in the civil services is being curtailed, said the petition.
