New Delhi (ILNS): The Delhi High Court has directed the state government and Delhi Police to ensure that candidates who possess admit cards for appearing in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination on October 4, are not obstructed in any manner from reaching their centers.
The court’s order also contained the precautionary clause “even if the same are located in containment zones”, though, as per the revised order of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare there should not exist such centre.
A single-judge bench of Justice Pratibha M. Singh, while hearing the petition through video conferencing, noted that as per the direction of the Supreme Court, while holding examinations social distancing has to be maintained in the seating arrangement for the candidates. Masks must be worn and provision of sanitizers, etc. must be made.
The petition has been filed by Ritesh Ranjan and others with regards to the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, alleging that in Delhi more than 100 candidates are being permitted to take the examination from a single-centre. He also alleged that some of the centers were located in containment zones.
Advocate Ashutosh Ghade, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that “for a total of 71,378 students, there are only 150 sub-centers in Delhi, which would mean at least 475 candidates would be taking the examination in each centre.”
However, advocate Naresh Kaushik, appearing for the UPSC, submitted that a detailed order was passed by the Supreme Court on September 30, in Vasireddy Govardhana Sai Prakash & Ors. v. UPSC & Ors. [W.P.(C) 1012/2020], in which all the issues raised in the present petition have been taken care of.
It may be pertinent to note here the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Revised SOP on preventive measures to be followed while conducting examinations to contain spread of COVID-19. The September 10 notification states that “Only those examination centers which are outside the containment zone shall be allowed to function. Staff/examinees from containment zones shall not be permitted. Such examinees shall be given an opportunity to undertake the examination through other means or the Universities/Educational Institution/ Agency may consider appropriate measures in this regard.”
The bench has disposed of the matter.
Read the order here;
PMS01102020CW74152020_195924-ILNS