SHRI PRAVEEN SHARMA S/O SHRI H.L. SHARMA Vs. THE SECRETARY UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION THROUGH ITS CHAIRMAN AND THE SECRETARY MINISTRY OF PERSONAL PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS DEPARTMENT OF PERSONAL AND TRAINING GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE question for consideration is what constitutes an 'attempt' at taking an examination' Does it mean taking all the papers in the examination (as contended by learned Counsel for the Petitioner) or does it include taking some of the papers only' In our opinion, for the purposes of the Civil Services Examination (the CSE), which is what we are concerned with, an 'attempt' in the examination includes taking some of the papers only.

(2.) THE Petitioner was a candidate for the CSE conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in the year 2006. In the CSE, a candidate is entitled to only four attempts at passing the examination.

(3.) THE Petitioner was then desirous of appearing in the CSE 2006 (the 5th 'attempt') but anticipating a rejection of his application form by the UPSC, he filed a writ petition in this Court being WP(C) No. 498/2006 in which an interim prayer was made to the effect that his application for participating in the CSE 2006 be not rejected on the ground that he had already undertaken four attempts in the CSE.