UPSC prelims: Govt faces SC ire for not filing ‘proper’ affidavit

NEW DELHI: The government faced the ire of the Supreme Court on Thursday for filing an affidavit by an under-secretary in the department of personnel and training (DOPT) without indicating at whose level a crucial decision was taken to deny an extra chance to final attempt candidates of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination conducted last year.the Centre now has 24 hours to file a better affidavit before the top court.

More than 100 candidates who used their last attempt to get into the Civil Services on October 4, 2020 had sought an extra chance as a one-time exemption. While some were front-line workers employed in Covid-19 duties and got little time to prepare for the examination, there were others who could not access online study material because of poor internet connectivity in far-flung areas.

Dashing their hopes, the Centre filed an affidavit on Monday that any exemption granted to the petitioners would have a cascading effect as even the non-final attempt candidates would seek parity. To be eligible to give the Civil Services (Preliminary) test, general category candidates can use six attempts till they are 32 years old. In the case of OBC’S candidates, there is relaxation of up to nine attempts and 35 years.

SC and ST candidates can try their hand at the exam as many times as they can until they attain the age of 37.

On Thursday, a three-judge bench headed by justice AM Khanwilkar lashed out at the Centre for not filing a “proper” affidavit. The bench remarked, “At whose level has this decision been taken?it is meant to be a policy decision and a one-time exception. Such a decision should have been taken at the highest level. Your affidavit says nothing about it. Is this the way to file an affidavit?”

Additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju agreed to file a better affidavit within a day as the bench postponed the hearing on the petition to Friday.