The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Monday told the Supreme Court that it would not be possible to defer the UPSC preliminary exams any further.

Advocate Naresh Kaushik, appearing for UPSC, made this submission before a three-judge bench led by Justice A M Khanwilker.

“Any further postponement of the scheduled exam would hamper the objectives of the exam catering to the four arms of the government”, submitted Kaushik before a bench which also comprised Justices B R Gavai and Krishna Murari.

The bench directed the UPSC counsel to file an affidavit stating its stand by tomorrow and listed the matter for hearing on September 30.

The petition filed through Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava seeks quashing of the revised calendar issued by the UPSC and to defer the exam by two or three months till the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.

The petitioners cited health risks to state that they may not be able to appear for the exam on October 4.