The Manipur government conveyed Today to the Delhi High Court that due to the current security conditions, conducting the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 (UPSC CSE 2024) in the state is not viable. Manipur Chief Secretary told the Court that students from the State may be allotted Centres outside Manipur for writing the exam.
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NEW DELHI: The Government of Manipur Today (March 19th) expressed to the Delhi High Court that the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 (UPSC CSE 2024) cannot be conducted within the state due to the current security issues. This declaration came about when a public interest litigation (PIL) was under review, which called for the establishment of suitable and alternative examination venues for tribal aspirants from Manipur’s hill districts.
The concern was communicated through a letter from the Chief Secretary of Manipur, submitted to the High Court. The letter highlighted that the turbulent conditions in the state render it unsuitable to host the UPSC exams, stressing that
“given the situation in the State and to maintain the UPSC exam’s sanctity, it will not be appropriate to provide centres in state of Manipur.”
It was suggested that students from Manipur should instead be allocated exam centers in neighboring regions, mirroring the arrangements made in the previous year.
The review of this situation was conducted by a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma represented the Central government, remarking on the dire conditions in Manipur by stating that the security concerns are so severe that even state government officials and police personnel are not immune to the risks.
The court, recognizing the gravity of the situation, has requested further details from the counsel representing the UPSC, with a continuation of the hearing scheduled for March 22.
The plea, initiated by the Zomi Students Federation, highlighted the lack of exam centers within the hill districts of Manipur, with the sole available center located in Imphal. The federation argued that the ongoing ethnic conflicts make it impossible for tribal candidates from the Kuki-Zomi communities to travel to Imphal for the examination. They pointed out the severe logistical challenges faced by candidates needing to opt for centers in other states, like Aizawl, which are hundreds of kilometers away via difficult terrain and with scant public transport options.
This situation, as per the plea, imposes undue financial and logistical burdens on the candidates, many of whom come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The petition underscored the dire consequences of this situation, stating,
“Owing to such situation, the candidates are forced to opt for other nearest centers in other states such as Aizawl which is more than 300-450 kilometers away through inhospitable roads from the hill districts and requires the candidates to incur huge expenditure for travel, boarding and lodging. Moreover, the difficult terrain and the severe lack of public transport facilities are dissuading factors for candidates. As most candidates in these regions are from a poor economic background, they do not have the means to stay in hotels/private accommodations.”
It concluded with a stark warning about the potential impact on tribal students’ futures, arguing that without suitable alternative arrangements, the inability to participate in the UPSC examinations could lead to “irreparable damage” for the diligent candidates, through no fault of their own.
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