Why extra chance to only those who did not appear in 2011: Allahabad HC to UPSC

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad High Court today asked Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to file its reply on a petition challenging the "extra chance" given this year to those civil services aspirants who could not appear in exams held in 2011 on account of the introduction of CSAT.

A division bench, comprising Justice Arun Tandon and Justice Bharat Bhushan, asked UPSC to file its counter affidavit and fixed August 31 as the next date of hearing on the petition filed by advocate Animesh Singh and two others.

The court asked UPSC to explain the rationale behind giving extra chance only to those who could not appear in 2011 when the agitation against CSAT, mainly by Hindi medium students, had been underway since 2010 and many of those who did not appear in 2011 may have taken the tests in the subsequent years.

The preliminary examinations for civil services are scheduled to be held on Sunday, August 23.

The Central Administrative Tribunal had passed an order for giving an extra chance to those candidates who could not appear in 2011.