The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected to defer the civil services preliminary examination scheduled for October 4 and have asked the authorities to consider a possible concession for candidates who are unable to take their last shot at the exam due to the COVID-19 pandemic.?
A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari asked the Centre to consider granting one more chance to those aspirants who may not appear in their last attempt allowed for the exam due to the pandemic.
It also refused to consider the plea for clubbing of this year's exam with that of 2021 saying this will have a cascading effects.
The bench was hearing a plea seeking postponement of the?Civil?Services Exam for two to three months, so that the flood/ incessant rains recede and the COVID-19 curve flattens.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) opposed the plea saying all necessary precautions have been taken and adequate arrangements have been made for holding the exam.
The bench said that as some public exams have recently been conducted successfully by the authorities by observing proper protocols, it is possible to conduct the UPSC preliminary examinations.?
It added that the grievance of lack of transport facility at 72 examination centres and sub-centres have not been substantiated by the petitioners.?
Dealing with the grievances of the aspirants that due to the COVID-19 situation students could not take the coaching and other facilities, the bench referred to the availability of facility of online study material to them.?
The top?court?said that it has impressed upon ASG SV Raju, appearing for the Centre, to explore the possibility of giving one more opportunity to such students who fail to take up the exam in their last attempt.
It said that a formal decision can be taken by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) expeditiously.?
On allowing suspected COVID-19 aspirants to take up their exams, the bench said that it is not possible to enter into this arena as a matter of fact medical SoP required that a patient is needed to be quarantined as it may result in exposure of other candidates.
Social distancing norms :?
UPSC said social distancing norms have been put in place and coordinating supervisors across the centres are specifically asked to ensure smooth procedures starting from micro-containment zones based on the e-admit cards without violating any central or state government guidelines.?
2. Wearing a mask or face cover is mandatory.
3.? Candidates should carry their own hand sanitizer in a transparent bottle.?
4. Candidates should follow COVID 19 norms of social distancing as well as personal hygiene inside the examination premises.?
UPSC Exam Guidelines :
The admit card for the same has been released on the official website and the candidates can download the same with their login credential and registration details.?
1. Candidate must carry the admit card without that no entry will be given to the candidates.?
2. Candidates should also have a photo identity proof along with the admit card for the verification?purpose.?
3. Candidates should have their own black point pen to fill the OMR sheet.??