Allahabad High Court comes to aid of woman who was late for exam due to rain, scooter puncture

The Allahabad High Court recently extended relief to a woman who could not appear for an exam as heavy rain and a scooter puncture prevented her from reaching the exam centre on time. .Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan observed that the candidate could reach the exam centre on time for reasons that were beyond her control."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)," the Court noted.The Court proceeded to direct that the candidate be allowed to take the exam as a special case. "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," the Court's July 15 order stated. .The Court passed the order on a plea by the woman candidate who was two minutes late for her Hindi Short Hand and Computer Typing Examination to qualify as an Additional Private Secretary.Her counsel explained that heavy rain and a punctured scooter prevented her from reaching on time for the exam. He, therefore, requested the Court to consider the matter sympathetically and direct the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) to permit her to appear for the exam again..The counsel for UPPSC expressed concern that if the candidate is allowed to appear for the exam, it could set a precedent and open the floodgates for more such requests. This would make it difficult for the Commission to conduct the examination properly, he said..The Court acknowledged this concern and emphasised that exam candidates should generally adhere to the fixed reporting time for exams.However, the Court eventually took a sympathetic view of the present plea and asked the UPPSC to allow the woman to take the exam, as a special case. "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," the Court said. .Advocates Daya Shankar Tiwari, Aditya Pandey and Amit Kumar appeared for the petitioner (exam candidate).Advocate Raj Kumar Upadhyaya appeared for the UPPSC..[Read Order]