A Civil Service Aspirant, whose application was cancelled by the Union Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as “UPSC”) for not submitting qualifying Degree certificates as per the Rule 7 and Rule 11 of the Civil Services Examination Rules, 2020, has filed a petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court challenging the cancellation of her candidature.
The Hon’ble Bench headed by Hon’ble Justice A. M Khanwilkar who was dealing with the same issue in another petition adjourned the matter to 6th July 2021.
The petitioner who was studying B. Tech could not submit necessary certificates because of the delay caused in conducting the final examination on account of the National Lockdown imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The petitioner was required to submit the proof of qualifying examination by 11th November 2020 but, her results were declared after November. She requested UPSC to allow her to write Mains based on the undertaking and in January 2021 she gave the Mains examination.
However, after appearing for Mains, she received a letter declaring her candidature as cancelled.
The petitioner contended that on account of unprecedented events, she cannot be denied to seek public employment and such cancellation of her candidature by the UPSC has tantamountly affected her fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution.
