Supreme Court allows UPSC CSE to be held on October 4. Not more than 100 candidates in each centre

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Union Public Service Commission to go ahead with the Civil Service Preliminary Examination on October 4, adhering to all the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Home Affairs. At the same time, it ruled that no COVID positive candidates will be allowed to write the exam.

The Commission was asked to ensure that no more than 100 candidates are allowed in a centre at a given point of time. "The MHA may issue appropriate directions to the UPSC in the form of supplementary guidelines if there is any lacuna in conforming to MHA Guidelines," it ruled.

An SC bench comprising of Justices AM Khanwilkar, BR Gavai and Krishna Murari was hearing a petition that sought the postponement of the examination by two or three months, considering the rising COVID cases in the country. The petitioners had also raised the issue of restrictions in transport facilities, owing to the lockdown. However, the court noted that the UPSC has allowed the students to change their centres. Notably, the court also directed the UPSC to issue directions to the states to admit the candidates with the admit card in hotels near their exam centres.

Another issue raised by the intervenor was the closure of libraries and lack of access to study materials. Responding to this, the court said, "Coming to the issue of lack of study material and access to libraries, we disagree as online material was available for the students." It also sought the Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who represented the UPSC to explore the possibility for giving students who have exceeded the age limit, one more attempt, without extending age limit.