Delhi HC rejects petition challenging changes in CSAT

The Delhi High Court today rejected a petition challenging the changes made in the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT).

Petitioner Vikas Nagwan said he had filed a writ petition against the UPSC's decision to exclude 22 marks of English Comprehension from Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) just one week before the exams, as it is unfair for the students of Arts, Humanities and medical background.

"As you know one week ago the UPSC changed its marking pattern of the exam, in that they refused to consider 22 marks of English comprehension. The students appearing for exams have been ordered not to attend those as they will not be marked on that. So my petition is that changing rules like this just one week before the exams is negative and against the interest for students of arts, humanities and medical background," said Nagwan.

"My prayer was that the exams should be continued further according to the UPSC notification that came on May 31, 2014. The 22 marks of English comprehension should be included," he added.

Nagwan said, "I filed writ petition which is different from PIL, now we have got the liberty that we can file the PIL tomorrow morning against UPSC and that will come before the chief justice and tomorrow it will be heard and decided."

Nagwan also said that the court had asked them to approach the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for the UPSC issue.

However, he further clarified that he doesn't want the date of the exam to be changed as it will be unfair; all he wants is to include the 22 marks of English Comprehension in the exam.

Earlier, in a bid to resolve the CSAT row, the government took a decision that the marks of English section will not be included for merit. This decision did not appease the students who were protesting against CSAT as they wanted CSAT to be scrapped entirely.