New Delhi (NVI): The Supreme Court today refused to postpone UPSC civil services preliminary examination, to be held on October 4.
A plea was filed by few civil service aspirants who wanted the delay Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) prelims due to COVID-19 pandemic and flood situation in many parts of the country.
However, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to consider granting one more chance to the aspirants who may not appear in their last attempt for exam due to pandemic.
The three-judge bench presided by Justices AM Khanwilkar, BR Gavai and Krishna Murari asked the commission to conduct the examination while maintaining all COVID-19 related standard operating procedures (SOP) issued by Ministry of Home Affairs.
The top court has also directed UPSC to not allow more than 100 candidates in one centre.
Meanwhile, the court did not permit separate isolation rooms for COVID-19 positive candidates to appear in the exam. In addition to this, UPSC had informed that anybody having symptoms of cough and cold will be made to sit in a separate room.
The Civil Services preliminary 2020 examination was earlier scheduled for May 31, which was postponed in the view of COVID-19 pandemic. Later in June, UPSC announced that it will conduct the prelim exams on October4 at 2,569 centres across 72 cities in the country.
-RJV
