SSC Must Consider Alternative Scheduling for Overlapping Recruitment Examinations

The applicant was scheduled to sit the DSSSB Grade-II (GNCTDSS)/Assistant Section Officer Examination, Post Code 804/26, on 16 October 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and the SSC CGL Tier-I Examination, 2026, on the same date from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The overlapping timings made it impossible for him to appear in both examinations.

After seeking relief from the examination authorities, he challenged DSSSB’s rejection of his rescheduling request and sought, alternatively, an adjustment to his SSC examination shift or date.

1. Whether, in light of the overlapping examination schedules, SSC should consider allotting the applicant an alternative shift or date so that he could appear in both examinations.

2. Whether the Tribunal should itself direct a particular rescheduling arrangement, rather than require SSC to consider its feasibility.

The order identifies no statute or specific regulatory provision governing the rescheduling of these examinations.

The Tribunal proceeded on the basis that, where two recruitment examinations overlap and time is limited, the applicant’s request should be considered so that he is not deprived of the opportunity to appear in either examination.

The applicant also relied on Nisha Kumar v. Haryana Public Service Commission, W.P. (C) No. 310/2022, in which the Supreme Court granted interim relief by staying examinations scheduled for 6–8 May 2022.

The Tribunal did not treat that interim order as establishing a binding entitlement to rescheduling in this case.

The Tribunal accepted that the schedules overlapped and noted that the applicant had sought an alternative SSC shift or date as relief.

However, SSC opposed that request, citing administrative impracticability because the examination had commenced.

Given the imminent examination date, the limited time available, and the absence of an effective appearance for DSSSB, the Tribunal did not direct a specific alternative arrangement.

Instead, it required SSC to consider whether an alternative shift or date was feasible.

No order as to costs was made.