Civil Services Exam-2023: Decide expeditiously on plea for reduction of cut-off, HC tells tribunal

CSAT stands for Civil Services Aptitude Test.

A division bench of Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Manoj Jain said, “The learned CAT is requested to decide the OA (original application) as expeditiously as possible. Needless to say, keeping in accordance with the principles of natural justice. Petition stands disposed of.”

At the outset, the court observed that the petitioners before the HC were aggrieved by the “non-grant of interim stay by CAT”. “You want that UPSC be stayed from making any appointments on the basis of CSE, 2023,” the court said orally.

Appearing for the petitioner candidates, advocate Saaket Jain submitted that his clients were aggrieved by the CSE preliminary exam paper part II. “CSE takes place in three stages; we are only concerned with the preliminary exam. Preliminary exam has two papers, General studies (paper I) and paper II contains questions from reasoning, aptitude and logical ability. In a statutory notification of the UPSC, the syllabus provides that the questions will be asked from Class 10 level,” Jain said.

The bench, however, orally stated, “Tribunal has not thrown out your case. It has issued notice on your OA. Matter is listed on July 6. No court will pass an order staying the entire CSE 2023. It is an ex facie prayer which can’t be granted.” The court disposed of the plea after Jain requested that when the matter is listed before CAT on July 6, it may be decided expeditiously as it affects lakhs of students. The same was not opposed by advocate Naresh Kaushik who appeared for UPSC.