Central Government does not agree to give age relaxation in Civil Services Examination, decision reserved: Supreme Court

The central government told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that it was not willing to give age relaxation in the civil service examination. However, the government said that it is still ready to give another chance to the final attempters in the Civil Services Examination in October 2020. However, the Supreme Court has reserved its decision after hearing the pleas of all the parties.Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for the central government before a three-member bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar, said the government was unable to give any relaxation in age.But he said that the government still persisted that those who gave the last attempt in the Civil Services Examination in October 2020 could be given another chance. He said that the government had agreed to it only at the behest of the court. ASG SB Raju, while opposing the pleas seeking an extra chance in the civil service examination, said that everyone was affected due to Covid-19. It is not correct to say that a group of examinees have been affected. If a group of students are given a concession, then other candidates will also demand an additional chance and the process will continue uninterrupted.Raju said that in February 2020, the examination notification was issued. Initially, the preliminary examination was to be held in May which took place in October. In such a situation, the candidates had enough time to prepare. That is, the candidates got five months time. The same lawyer appearing for UPSC said that last year NDA, Engineering Services etc. also had examinations. But students did not complain in these cases. The ASG opposed the plea of ​​the petitioners that not giving age concession is discrimination. He said that discrimination is also for those who took the exam for the first time. At the same time, the lawyers of the petitioners said that there is no benefit just by giving extra effort, relaxation in age limit should also be provided. He also said that this is a very difficult exam, so study material and coaching classes are required for preparing for the exam. But all this could not be possible due to Covid-19.