The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine a plea by some UPSC aspirants to postpone the civil services preliminary exam scheduled for October 4 amid the pandemic.
A Bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar agreed to take up the case for hearing on September 28.
The petition said the conduct of the exam in the midst of a dangerous public health crisis was a violation of the fundamental right to life of lakhs of aspirants.
About six lakh candidates are expected to take the exams in 72 centres spread across the country. With the rate of infection peaking, the exam would be a cause for further spread of the virus, they apprehended.
Many students may opt to not take the exam for fear of contracting the virus. Thus, the fundamental right of students to fulfill their professional aspiration in the civil services is being curtailed.
The petition also accused the exam authorities of violating the right to equality as aspirants from lower middle classes may not be able to afford the cost of transport, accommodation and other facilities to take the exam during the pandemic.