The Madhya Pradesh High Court has permitted candidates from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category to apply for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 with a three-year age relaxation. The decision, delivered on February 14, 2025, comes as a relief to EWS aspirants who were previously excluded from age-related benefits granted to other reserved categories.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain directed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to accept applications from EWS candidates without enforcing existing age or qualification restrictions. The order followed a petition filed by Aaditya Narayan Pandey, challenging the lack of age relaxation for EWS aspirants compared to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and women candidates.
“Respondent No.3-Union Public Service Commission is directed to accept the application of the petitioner as well as all other similarly situated candidates for CSE-2025 without reference to the existing qualification or age, but subject to compliance of other conditions.” Applications will be accepted for seven days from the order date, pending further court decisions.
Background of the Petition
The petitioner argued that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Office Memorandum (O.M.) dated October 21, 2019, and subsequent FAQs from September 19, 2022, unfairly excluded EWS candidates from age relaxations. While categories like SC, ST, OBC, and women enjoy a three-year age concession, EWS candidates were denied this benefit despite their economic disadvantages.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Pandey, highlighted that similar interim relief had been granted in another case. The Supreme Court had earlier declined to hear the plea under Article 32, directing petitioners to approach the High Court instead.
While allowing EWS candidates to apply, the Court clarified that appointment letters cannot be issued without its explicit approval. The Bench stated, “Appointment orders of such candidates permitted by this order shall not be issued without leave of this Court.”
Government counsel Sandeep Shukla sought additional time to file responses, prompting the Court to list the matter for hearing after two weeks. The case will be heard alongside related petitions, including WP No.2108/2022.
