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2021 DIGILAW 161 (UTT)

Ravinder Jugran v. State of Uttarakhand

2021-03-15

ALOK KUMAR VERMA, RAGHVENDRA SINGH CHAUHAN

body2021
JUDGMENT : Raghvendra Singh Chauhan, J. This PIL is filed for the following prayer before this Court :- “Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the State of Uttarakhand to allow students who belatedly got the CTET results only on January 31, 2021 and Bachelors of Education End Semester Results to appear, due to delay owing to the COVID-19 pandemic to participate in the examination of the LT Grade-Assistant Teachers due to be-held in April 2021.” 2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the two requirements for a person wanting to apply for the post of Assistant Teachers LT Grade are that he must have a CTET certificate, and a Bachelors of Education degree before he can apply for the said post. Moreover, the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (in short “the Commission”) issued an advertisement for 1431 vacancies for the said post on 13.10.2020. The last date for filing the applications was 04.12.2020. However, due to onslaught of COVID-19, pandemic, which covered the entire year of 2020 from March till December, many of the hopeful candidates could neither clear the CTET examination, nor could complete their B.Ed. degree on time. For, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the academic year was rather disturbed. Since the CTET results have been declared on 31.01.2021, and the Bachelors of Education degree have been completed only recently, the Commission should be directed to extend the last date for submissions of the applications by the eligible candidates. The learned counsel has also prayed that even the examination for the said post should be postponed till end of May, 2021. 3. On the other hand, the learned counsel for the Commission submits that the postponed of the examination will be rather difficult as the Commission has already declared its calendar for the year, 2021. Moreover, in the month of May and June 2021, the Central Board of Senior Education, and the Uttarakhand Board examination are scheduled to take place. Therefore, the Commission would find it extremely difficult to locate sufficient space for holding the examination for the post of Assistant Teachers LT Grade. Hence, the possibility of adjourning the examination is almost nil. The learned counsel further submits that the examination is scheduled to be held on 25.04.2021. The Commission is willing to extend the last date of submissions of the applications and fees till 25.03.2021. Hence, the possibility of adjourning the examination is almost nil. The learned counsel further submits that the examination is scheduled to be held on 25.04.2021. The Commission is willing to extend the last date of submissions of the applications and fees till 25.03.2021. But this is the only benefit that can be given to the petitioner, and to others those who are eligible to apply for the said post. 4. Therefore, this Court records the undertaking given by the learned counsel for the Commission, that the Commission will extend the last date for submissions of the applications and also submissions of the examination fees, if any, till 25.03.2021. 5. Since, the said undertaking has been given, this Court directs the Commission to publicize the fact that the eligible candidates will be entitled to submit their applications and the fees till 25.03.2021. 6. With these directions, the present writ petition stands disposed of. 7. Let a certified copy of this order be issued to the learned counsel for the parties on payment of usual charges.