Madhya Pradesh High Court Grants Interim Age Relaxation To EWS Candidates Filling 2025 UPSC CSE Form

In a plea on age limit relaxation for EWS category in UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025, the Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High court in an interim order permitted EWS candidates to fill the form and directed the UPSC to extend the age relaxation benefit to them, in view of the fact that the form submission window was closing on February 18. The petitioner sought to quash an office memorandum of the Department of Personnel & Training order dated October 21, 2019, FAQs dated September 19, 2022 and Civil Services Examination notification of February 14, 2024 on the ground that no age relaxation on the ground that no age relaxation is being provided to the candidates belonging to EWS category. It was contended that such relaxation has been provided to other reserved categories such as scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes and women. Considering the petitioner's submission that the last date for filling the CSE 2025 was closing soon, a division bench of Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain in its order said, "However, since the last date to fill up the forms is stated to be approaching, we deem it appropriate to permit the petitioner to apply for the same. Respondent No.3-Union Public Service Commission is directed to accept the application of the petitioner as well as all other similarly situated candidates for CSE-2025 without reference to the existing qualification or age, but subject to compliance of other conditions". “The applications will be accepted on the aforesaid condition upto seven days from today and subject to further orders of this Court. The respondent No.3 (UPSC), while receiving the applications of candidates belonging to the EWS category shall extend the age benefit as granted to the others as mentioned hereinabove. However, appointment orders of such candidates permitted by this order shall not be issued without leave of this Court.” During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the petitioner, said that general category students are allowed six chances but zero age relaxation and EWS category is also getting six chances and zero age relaxation. As far as state OBC category candidates are concerned, they are on par with general category. Sibal argued that in a recent order by the court for another examination (passed on February 10, 2025), it has been stated that the EWS should be treated at par with OBC in the central list where OBCs category candidates get nine chances and three years age relaxation, which is not given to the OBCs in the state list. "Form (window) closes on the February 18, therefore we need an urgent order," Sibal said. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel & Training in its FAQs on reservation to (EWS) in posts/ under Central Government had clarified that − A person belonging to OBC in a State list but not in Central List can avail EWS Reservation but presently, no relaxation in age is available to EWS Candidates. The advocate for the petitioner contended that the same shall apply in this case and it is not fair that the OBC in central list get more chances and the state list don't are at par with general category and EWS being treated as the same. Advocate on behalf of UPSC stated that they are concerned mainly regarding the conduct of examination as per the rules and have filed their short reply. The advocate contended that they are not a necessary party and hence should be removed from the case. The matter is next listed after two weeks along with another writ petition. Case title: Aaditya Narayan Pandey Vs Union Of India And Others Case No: WP No. 14695 of 2024Click Here To Read/Download The Order

Madhya Pradesh High Court Grants Interim Age Relaxation To EWS Candidates Filling 2025 UPSC CSE Form

Siddhi Nigam

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