UPSC row: Govt says it will not allow injustice to students

Government today said it will not allow any injustice to students on the basis of language in UPSC examinations and has sought a report within a week from the three-member panel looking into the issue.
The assurance from Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh came in the Rajya Sabha after members expressed serious concern over the ongoing agitation of UPSC aspirants protesting the new Civil Services exam pattern and demanded cancellation of the exam scheduled on August 24.
Members, cutting across party lines, demanded a timeline for resolution of the issue and expressed dissatisfaction with the Minister's reply.
They said the Minister had in a statement sometime back assured that the problem will be resolved within a week, but appears helpless in doing so.

Singh said the issue of Admit Cards is not linked to the exam pattern and it will have no bearing on the government's decision, as it was being done as per the UPSC schedule.
"Government is not in favour of any injustice to students on the basis of language," Jitendra Singh told the House, adding he has asked the Committee to hand over the report within a week".

Allaying their apprehensions on the issue, the Minister said "The issue of Admit cards is not in any way going to influence the decision to be taken by the government. The cards have not been issued by us, but by the UPSC which follows a calender. The issue of Admit Cards, I can assure you, is not going to influence the further course of action," Singh told members in the Upper House.

He said "I assure you that within one week we have sought the report of the Committee...Today I have again told the Committee to give the report within one week. As the report comes, further action will follow."
Singh also reminded the Opposition that the three-member Committee was formed on March 12, 2014 as per Court directive during UPA tenure and it was to submit its report within a month but it did not do so.
Earlier, the Opposition created a ruckus in both the Houses over the issue.
Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice during Question Hour following Opposition's demand for a clarification by no other than the Prime Minister or the Leader of the House on the issue.

The matter figured in Lok Sabha too though it did not lead to any adjournment.