JUDGMENT (ORAL)

% 07.05.2026

C. HARI SHANKAR, J.

1. OA 3689/2015, filed by the petitioner against the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and the Union Public Service Commission¹“UPSC” hereafter, was disposed of, by the Central Administrative Tribunal²“Tribunal” hereafter by judgment dated 23 June 2021, with a direction to the UPSC to exercise its discretion under Rule 15 of the Ministry of Statistical Services Examination Rules, 2015 [wrongly referred to in paragraph 13 of the judgment of the Tribunal as “the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995”] in favour of Physically Handicapped category candidates³“Physically Handicapped” hereinafter on the lines adopted in the case of Indian Engineering Service, Geo Scientists and Geologists.

2. For the purposes of the present appeal, we are not concerned with the merits of the dispute between the parties.

3. RA 59/2023 was filed by the UPSC, seeking review of the aforenoted judgment dated 23 June 2021. The RA was filed on 2 December 2021 by e-mail as, owing to the currency of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical filings were not taking place at that time.

4. The RA remai