The Allahabad High Court recently provided relief to a woman who missed her exam due to heavy rain and a scooter puncture, which delayed her arrival at the exam center. Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan observed that the reasons for the delay were beyond the candidate's control.
The Court noted, "Heavy rain was act of God, but she tried her level best to reach at the examination centre well in time but in the meantime her scooty got punctured (sic)." Consequently, the Court directed an exception to be made, allowing the candidate to take the exam as a special case.
The Court's order, dated July 15, specified, "As a special case, which may not be treated as precedent, the Commission may permit the petitioner to take her Hindi short hand and computer typing examination for the post of Additional Private Secretary, 2023 on last date of examination."
This order came in response to a plea from the woman candidate, who was two minutes late for her Hindi Short Hand and Computer Typing Examination, a requirement for qualifying as an Additional Private Secretary. Her counsel explained that the delay was due to heavy rain and a punctured scooter, and requested that the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) be directed to allow her to retake the exam.
In response, the UPPSC's counsel expressed concern that allowing the candidate to retake the exam might set a precedent, leading to a potential increase in similar requests and complicating future examination administration.
While the Court recognized these concerns and highlighted the need for candidates to adhere to fixed reporting times, it chose to adopt a sympathetic approach in this instance. The Court instructed the UPPSC to allow the woman to retake the exam as an exceptional case.
The Court also stated, "Shri Ravi Shanker Tewari, learned counsel for (UPPSC) may apprise the Commission about the concern of the Court in such peculiar facts and circumstances and the Commission may not treat this concession as precedent for others."
Advocates Daya Shankar Tiwari, Aditya Pandey, and Amit Kumar represented the petitioner, while Advocate Raj Kumar Upadhyaya appeared on behalf of the UPPSC.
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