HC directs UPSC to communicate with GNCTD to ensure that aspirants have no hindrance in accessing centers located in containment zones [Read Order]

The Delhi High Court in, RITESH RANJAN & ORS. v. UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION & ANR. while hearing a plea regarding the conduction of Civil Services exam on 4th October 2020 reiterates that all the universities and boards have started conducting the exam and the exams so conducted must be with adherence to social distancing norms and all the SOPs issued by the government including wearing of masks and availability of sanitizers.

The Petitioners in this case mainly had two grievances. First, he submitted that in Delhi more than 100 students are having the same centres and that secondly, some of the centres are located in the containment zones. He stated that the aforementioned situations are violative of the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines.

The Counsel for respondents, i.e UPSC stated that a detailed order has been passed in Vasireddy Govardhana Sai Prakash & Ors. v. UPSC & Ors by the Apex court whereby all the grievances of the petitioner are taken care of.

The Court after a perusal of arguments and records stated that it was true that detailed guidelines have been issued in the aforementioned judgement recently. With respect to the question of a number of students per centre is concerned, the court stated that it was not a social or religious gathering rather an academic gathering and hence the MHA would issue detailed guidelines with respect to that. Moreover, the court stated that the guidelines issued by the government must be followed at all costs. The issue of centres in the containment zone was also dealt with by the high court. The court directed that the UPSC must inform the Delhi Government and police that in any manner the students are not stopped from reaching the centres located in containment zones. The communication must request that proper directions are issued to the authorities concerned including the police officials to ensure that, “Candidates who possess admit cards for appearing in the examination are not stopped or obstructed in any manner from reaching their centres, even if the same are located in containment zones.”

Case Details

W.P.(C) 7415/2020 & CM APPLs.24805-06/2020

Counsel for petitioner- Mr. Ashutosh Ghade, Advocate.

Counsel for respondent- Mr. Naresh Kaushik, Advocate.

Coram- JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH--

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