‘Be optimistic’, says SC; defers hearing on Class 12 exams to Monday

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 28

The Supreme Court on Friday deferred to May 31 hearing on a petition seeking directions to cancel the Class 12 exams of the CBSE and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) amidst the surge in Covid-19 cases across the country.

“Be optimistic. Maybe by Monday some resolution will be there. Let us have it on Monday,” a Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar told petitioner Mamata Sharma who has sought directions to devise an “objective methodology” to declare Class 12 results within a specific time frame.

The CBSE had on April 14 announced cancellation of Class 10 exams and postponement of Class 12 exams in view of the sudden spike in Covid-19 cases.

The Ministry of Education recently sought detailed suggestions from the states and Union Territories on the proposals discussed in a high-level meeting held on the issue.

The CBSE has proposed conducting the exams between July 15-August 26 and the result to be declared in September. It gave two options -- conducting regular exams for 19 major subjects at notified centres or conducting shorter duration exams at respective schools where students are enrolled.

The Bench asked her to serve an advance copy of her petition to the standing counsel for CBSE, ICSE and the office of the Attorney General for India.

The petitioner contended that due to the unprecedented health emergency and surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, it is not possible to conduct the examination and any further delay would cause irreparable loss to the future of students.

It was the utmost duty of the state to take care of the health and safety of students and at the same time, not to hamper their higher education and career prospects, she said.

Sharma referred to the June 26 last order passed by the apex court which had approved the schemes of CBSE and CISCE for cancellations of remaining board examinations scheduled from July 1 to 15 last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and also approved their formula for assessment of examinees.

“In view of the unprecedented health emergency and rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country, the conduct of examination (either offline/online/blended) in upcoming weeks is not possible and delay in examination will cause irreparable loss to the students as time is the essence in taking admission in higher education courses in foreign universities,” she submitted.