The UPSC on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it would not be possible to defer the ensuing civil services examination.
The civil services (preliminary) examinations are scheduled to be held on October 4.
However, the Supreme Court has asked the UPSC sought a response as to why the civil services examinations should not be postponed in the backdrop of the COVID19 pandemic and heavy rain and floods in several parts of the country.
A bench of the apex court comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, BR Gavai and Krishna Murari asked the UPSC counsel to file an affidavit by Tuesday, said a media report.
The UPSC counsel objected to the plea for the deferment of the exams, as it would upset the schedule of the examinations.
The Supreme Court bench will hear the matter on Wednesday.
The plea to postpone the examinations was filed by Vasireddy Govardhana Sai Prakash and others.
The petitioners sought that the civil services examinations be postponed for two to three months as COVID19 positive cases continue to shoot up in the country.
The petitioners also said daily life has been disrupted due to the incessant rains in many parts of the country.
“Liberty is granted to serve advance copy on the Standing Counsel for the Union Public Service Commission as well as on the Standing Counsel for the Central Agency representing Union of India through email/online,” the apex court said in the earlier hearing on the matter.
The petitions said the exam, being a recruitment examination, is altogether different from an academic examination and thus in the event of its postponement, there would no question of delay or loss of any academic session.