RADHIKA MITTAL
Residing in the conflict-ridden hill districts of the state. The order aims to facilitate these candidates’ travel to examination centers located outside Manipur, addressing the challenges posed by the prevailing law and order situation.
Background and Initial Petition
The decision came in response to a Special Leave Petition challenging the Delhi High Court’s March 28 order. The original order had limited travel and reimbursement facilities to candidates traveling to the exam center in Imphal, offering an allowance of Rs. 1000 per day for three days to cover expenses. This amount was deemed insufficient by the petitioners.
Supreme Court’s Directive
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, ruled in favor of enhancing the financial assistance to Rs. 3000 per candidate per day for a duration of three days. This revised assistance is intended to cover transportation, food, and lodging expenses for candidates traveling to centers outside the state. The order extends beyond those opting for the Imphal center, applying to any candidate from the disturbed hill areas traveling to different state centers.
Specific Provisions and Transportation Arrangements
In particular, the Court mandated the provision of bus services for candidates from the disturbed region of Senapati District traveling to their exam center in Dimapur. The state government was instructed to arrange transportation for the eight candidates from Senapati if they so desired. Additionally, the allowance for one candidate from Churchandpur was increased from Rs. 2500 to Rs. 5000 due to the impracticality of arranging direct transportation.
Details for Nodal Officers and Contact Information
Candidates seeking the benefits of this order must inform the nodal officer of the state government about their current location and their intended examination center. The Court specified that contact details and email IDs of the nodal officers would be provided to facilitate this process.
Public Interest Litigation and High Court Observations
The case originated from a Public Interest Litigation filed before the Delhi High Court. The petition sought directives for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to make adequate arrangements for tribal candidates from Manipur’s hill districts to take the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2024, and the Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2024. The petitioners requested the establishment of exam centers in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi and the reopening of the application portal to allow candidates to choose their preferred center.
The Delhi High Court, referencing an affidavit from the UPSC, noted the Manipur government’s inability to open exam centers in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi due to intense ethnic violence. Consequently, candidates from hill districts who had opted for Imphal were given the option to select centers outside the state, including Aizawal, Kohima, Shillong, Dispur, Jorhat, Kolkata, and Delhi.
The Supreme Court’s decision reflects its recognition of the unique challenges faced by candidates in disturbed areas and aims to ensure equitable access to examination facilities for all aspirants.
Advocate Nizam Pasha represented the petitioner federation, supported by Advocates John Simte, Sidharth Kaushik and Awstika Das, with Advocate on Record Lzafeer Ahmad BF filing the petition. The respondents were represented by Manipur’s Advocate General, Mr. Naorem Kumarjit Singh.
Case name: Zomi Students Federation Vs. Union Public Service Commission SLP(C) No. 010831/2024.
Bench: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra