22 March 2024 Administrative Law >> Constitution & Law Procedure   |   Constitutional & Government >> Constitution & Law Procedure   |   Education >> Miscellaneous  

In a recent order, the High Court of Delhi granted a petition seeking a postponement of the upcoming professional examination. The Petitioner, whose name appeared on the successful candidate list only on March 21st, 2024, argued insufficient preparation time due to the late notification.

The Court (WP(C) No. 4493/2024) issued notice to the respondent, the Authority. Both parties opted to forego filing counter-affidavits and requested an immediate hearing for final disposal.

The Petitioner's counsel argued for a postponement, citing the limited window between qualification notification and the originally scheduled exam dates of March 30th and 31st, 2024. The Authority, represented by Ms. Padam Priya, emphasized the urgency of completing the selection process by August 5th, 2024, as mandated by the Supreme Court judgement in Malik Mazhar Sultan & Anr vs Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission & Ors (2008) 17 SCC 703.

The Court acknowledged ongoing legal challenges related to the exam's answer keys, with some writ petitions finding success (para 7). These challenges had already necessitated a prior postponement of the exam dates.

Balancing the Petitioner's need for preparation time with the Authority's urgency, the Court directed a postponement of the examination by approximately twelve days (para 10). Consequently, the exam will now be conducted on April 13th and 14th, 2024. This order effectively disposes of the petition.

This judgement highlights the Court's willingness to ensure fairness in the examination process by considering the circumstances of recently qualified candidates.