In Brief
Three writ petitions challenged the Union Public Service Commission's (UPSC) denial of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category benefits for Civil Services Examination 2022. The petitioners claimed EWS eligibility but failed to produce Income and Asset Certificates (I&ACs) for the financial year 2020-2021 by the prescribed cut-off date of 22 February 2022. The Supreme Court held that EWS eligibility crystallizes only upon issuance and possession of a valid I&AC by the prescribed cut-off date; mere delayed submission of proof does not retroactively confer eligibility. The Court upheld the validity of Civil Services Examination Rules 2022 and rejected arguments that the cut-off date violated Article 14, finding that the default rule requiring eligibility possession by the application deadline applies unless expressly varied. All petitions were dismissed.
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