Dear Editor,
We applaud the announcement of date for conduct of APCS 2017 interview in the month of June-2020. We whole heartedly support the endeavor in this direction. However, we have some grievances, which we think would also be problem of most of the aspirants from the other metros who would be appearing for the APPSCCE-17.
The date of interview has been rescheduled from 02/06/2020 to 06/06/2020. We have been working hard and dreaming of going back to our state to render our service to the state, and therefore would not like to miss this golden opportunity to appear in the viva-voce of APPSCCCE-2017. However we are apprehensive whether we would be able to avail this one time opportunity as it is marred by Lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic. It is uncertain when the government will end the lockdown or domestic flights will resume.
The government is planning to bring back the stranded person from states other than Northeast only after 15th May 2020. Delhi comes under Red Zone as per classification on COVID-19 affected areas. Therefore we will be mandatorily quarantined for 14 days as per SOP guidelines. In the quarantine centres we will not get the same ambience for preparation for interview like those stationed at hometown. Moreover the persons returning from Red Zones are much stigmatized and SOP guidelines keep on changing. Days prior to any examination/interview are very crucial for success.
Taking note of the restrictions under lockdown, UPSC has deferred the personality test of Civil Service Examination 2019 and other examinations and decided to announce the dates only after reviewing the current situation on 20th May 2020. Therefore, under the above circumstances, we would earnestly like to request APPSC that the date of viva-voce may be postponed until the domestic flights and trains resume post the 3rd Lockdown. The date of interview may be held a few days after 14 days of mandatory quarantine from the date of arrival in the state. This would provide level playing field for all the aspirants and make APPSC a true guardian of merit and equity.
Yours sincerely,
APPSC Viva-voce candidates, New Delhi