Class XI exams put off in J&K

Jammu, April 17

Concerned over the spike in Covid cases, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday announced the postponement of Class XI examination and restricted the ceiling on social gatherings to 100.

The latest directive comes two days after the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration deferred biannual Durbar move to Srinagar, extended closure of all schools up to Class XII till April 30 along with private coaching centres. It also cancelled the ongoing Class X examination being conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE).

"In view of Covid-19, Class XI exams have been postponed. There will also be ceiling on gatherings and functions, restricting to 100 persons from the earlier 200,” the office of the Lt Governor said in a tweet.

There has been a spike in Covid cases in Jammu and Kashmir over the past one month. On Friday, the UT recorded 1,144 new Covid-19 cases, taking the infection tally to 1,44,021, while two more Covid-related deaths pushed the toll to 2,048.

On April 15, the Jammu and Kashmir administration came out with a series of Covid control measures and announced deferment of the bi-annual Durbar move, over a century-old exercise under which the government functions six months each in the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu.

The civil secretariat – the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government – and other move offices, including Raj Bhavan, were scheduled to close in Jammu on April 30 to May 1 and set to begin functioning in summer capital Srinagar from May 10. PTI