The Supreme Court Thursday asked the Centre to consider the representation of some aspirants, who could not appear in the UPSC civil services main examination after being infected with COVID-19 and are now seeking an additional attempt, in light of the recommendation made in a recent parliamentary committee report.

In the March 24 report, the committee has said that keeping in view the hardships faced by the student community during the first and second waves of COVID-19, it recommends the government to change its mind and sympathetically consider the demand of civil services examination (CSE) aspirants and grant an extra attempt with corresponding age relaxation to all candidates.

The Centre had last week told the apex court that additional attempt in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil services examination is not possible.

A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar was hearing a plea filed by three aspirants who had cleared the UPSC 2021 prelims exam but could not appear in all papers of the main exam after testing positive for COVID-19 and are now seeking an extra attempt to appear in the exams.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who was appearing for an intervenor in the matter, apprised the apex court about the parliamentary committee report.

Has the government considered this (committee report) before taking the decision, the bench, also comprising Justices A S Oka and C T Ravikumar, asked.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said that she do not have instructions on this.

You may consider it in light of this recommendation, the bench observed, adding it is open for the government to change its mind.

The bench asked the petitioners and the intervenor to make representation to the authority which would consider it in light of the committee report.

In light of the recommendation of the parliamentary committee, we dispose of this petition and application with a direction to the appropriate authority to re-examine the representations made by the petitioners and similarly placed persons afresh and take appropriate decision.., the bench said.

The bench made clear that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the matter.

The UPSC had recently told the top court there is no provision for holding re-examination in case a candidate fails to appear in the test on the scheduled date for any reasons, including ailment or accident incapacitating him to take the exam.