Manipur govt declines transportation arrangement for UPSC exams outside state, offers reimbursement

 The Manipur state government has informed the Delhi High Court that it will not arrange transportation for students from hill districts to UPSC Civil Services Exam centers outside the state.

AINS, 29 March 2024, New Delhi: The Manipur government has informed the Delhi High Court that it will not organise transportation facilities for students from hill districts to UPSC Civil Services Exam centres located outside the state.

This decision, presented in response to a PIL filed by the Zomi Students Federation, cited security concerns and suggested that students arrange their own transport and accommodation, while the government would offer reimbursement.

Agreeing with the state’s stance, a division bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, appreciated the government’s reasoning.

The court noted the provision of financial assistance to students opting for exam centres beyond Manipur and stressed the importance of respecting the government’s assessment of security situations in the hill districts.

The Manipur government’s counsel submitted that there are security risks associated with transporting groups of students together, prompting the court to accept the state’s decision.

Moreover, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) assured the court that candidates from Manipur’s hill districts who initially selected Imphal as their exam centre could opt for alternative centres, such as Aizawl, Kohima, Dispur, Jorhat, Kolkata, and Delhi.

The UPSC portal will be re-opened for this purpose from April 8 to April 19, with candidate details shared with the Manipur government.

The court was presented with a letter from Manipur’s Chief Secretary affirming the state’s commitment to providing financial assistance to candidates. Considering the security risks involved in government-arranged transportation, the bench accepted the state’s position and disposed of the PIL, while allowing the petitioner federation to seek further clarification or modification of the order if needed.

Agencies: PIL by Zomi Students Federation

This decision follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Zomi Students Federation, raising security concerns and proposing that students arrange their own transport and accommodation, with the government offering reimbursement.

A division bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, appreciated the state government’s reasoning and agreed with its stance.

The court acknowledged the provision of financial assistance to students opting for exam centers beyond Manipur and emphasized the importance of respecting the government’s assessment of security situations in hill districts.

The state government’s counsel highlighted security risks associated with transporting groups of students together, prompting the court to support the state’s decision.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) assured the court that candidates from Manipur’s hill districts could select alternative centers, with the UPSC portal reopening for this purpose from April 8 to April 19.

A letter from Manipur’s Chief Secretary reaffirmed the state’s commitment to providing financial assistance to candidates.

Considering the security risks involved in government-arranged transportation, the bench disposed of the PIL, allowing the petitioner federation to seek further clarification or modification if necessary.