Father of serving Govt officer seeks to intervene in plea seeking to postpone UPSC Prelims, says COVID-19 duty has hampered preparation

The father of a serving officer in the Central Armed Police Forces of the Government of India has moved an application to intervene in plea seeking the postponement of the UPSC prelims. The applicant points out that his son, the government officer himself was set to prepare for the civil services but the extra workload on account of COVID19 has hindered his preparations..Supreme Court to hear plea seeking postponement of UPSC prelims by 2-3 months in wake of COVID-19.The intervention application filed by Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava states that many such officers on duty for COVID-19 have been preparing for the UPSC prelims exam 2020 . During this pandemic, however, it is pointed out that taking preparatory leaves was not possible. .Thus having exams on October 4 would be unjust for them when compared to other students, the IA states. .The intervenor has submitted that the challenges and extra workload on the Central Armed Police Force officers during the pandemic has not only derailed his plans for preparing for the UPSC, bu that it has also put him in a disadvantageous position vis-à-vis other aspirants, who may have managed to stay home and prepare through online resources.."Many other aspirants for civil services would be under a similar predicament as the applicant's son. It is not only the capacity for preparations, which is severely affected but also the access to the examination itself, is severely and adversely affected on account of the restrictions on movement and the predominant fear of contraction of the disease in the prevailing pandemic," reads the plea..Given the large movement of candidates during the exam, especially to reach the Centres, the application filed through Advocate-on-record, Anushree Kapadia also contends that the "whole paraphernalia which goes into conducting the examination, it appears that such a massive movement in these times is beyond all logic and respect for human lives.".Submitting that the UPSC is a recruitment exam and not an academic one like NEET or JEE, there can be no argument of compromising an academic career here. .Substantiating further the applicant says that exam "which is to begin ab initio can be postponed for the larger good unless a cause bigger than people‟s right to life is at stake, which in this case is certainly not.".The application further avers that at a time when the country is witnessing an approximate of "1 lakh COVID-19 cases daily," it would not be prudent to hold the civil services exam as it would involve the movement of a large number of people, from remote areas as well, to take the exam using public transport etc. increasing "the chance of being infected.".The plea adds that the decision to conduct the exam on October 4, "will not only put people in danger of COVID 19 but also of other life-threatening diseases which will increase the pressure on out healthcare system enormously."