A group of UPSC aspirants challenged the age limit cut-off of August 1 in letters to the Chief Justice of India (CJI). They argue that the cut-off date is unfair, as it discriminates against candidates born in the same year but just a few months or days apart. The aspirants claim this policy denies them equal opportunities. They have urged the CJI to address this issue in the interest of fairness.
New Delhi: A group of at least 15 civil service exam aspirants has written individual letters to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, challenging the current age eligibility rule for the exam.
They stated that the regulation, which sets August 1 as the cut-off date for determining the maximum age limit, is discriminatory and undermines the principle of equal opportunity.
Under the existing rules, candidates in the general category must not be older than 32 years as of August 1 of the exam year. Since the civil services preliminary exam is usually conducted in May, this means that candidates who turn 32 on July 31 are ineligible, while those who turn 32 after August 1 are permitted to apply, despite being of the same age.
Read Also: Delhi HC: UPSC Aspirants from Imphal Can Change Exam Centre
Aspirants such as Bandi Sivagopal, Deepak Azad, and MD Kurup contend that this creates an unfair system, as individuals born only days or months apart face different eligibility statuses, penalizing their merit and efforts.
In his letter, Sivagopal suggested changing the cut-off date to January 1, similar to other government recruitment processes, to promote fairness. Other correspondences, including one from Yash Sharma, assert that the policy infringes upon Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.
Meanwhile, Manisha Dey’s letter points out a violation of Article 16, which ensures equality of opportunity in public employment. Notably, a similar petition was dismissed by the Supreme Court in October 2024, yet the aspirants remain hopeful for renewed consideration of their concerns.
Article 16 of the Constitution of India ensures that every citizen has equal opportunities when it comes to public employment. It prevents discrimination based on factors like religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, or residence in any government job or position.
Here are the key points of Article 16:
- Equality of Opportunity: All citizens should have equal chances for government jobs, and no one should be discriminated against based on personal traits.
- Reservation: The article allows for reservation for specific groups like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes to promote social justice and ensure fair representation in government jobs.
- Age Limitations: The government can set age limits for public jobs, but this is only allowed under certain conditions, without violating people’s basic rights.
- Exceptions: The state can offer special or preferential treatment in some cases, particularly to support backward classes or women.
Article 16 aims to ensure fairness and justice in public employment by promoting both equality and affirmative action for marginalized groups in India.