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The Supreme Court on Tuesday, 22 June, refused to interfere with the decision of CBSE and CISCE – both of which had cancelled Class 12 board examinations due to the second wave of COVID-19.
Further, the apex court, as per media reports, gave the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government two days to convey the final decision, after the state government said that it wants to conduct state board exams for class 12.
The Bench also told the state government that the latter would be responsible if there’s even one loss of life.
The Court also ejected a plea by private and compartment students against CBSE’s decision to hold offline examinations for them.
According to Bar and Bench, the petition stated that this decision by CBSE amounts to unequal treatment to private/ patrachar/ second-chance compartment candidates of Class 10 and 12 since board exams for regular students have been cancelled by CBSE.
Meanwhile the Court refused to interfere, nearly, as per Bar and Bench, stating: “present scheme says exam will be held where all such candidates can appear as private candidates and exams will be held from Aug 15 to September 15 and results will be at the earliest so that these students can pursue their career if so desired.”
Earlier on Monday, 21 June, the court said that it has agreed with the boards’ schemes in principle but will “hear the petitioners before suggesting modifications”.
The court passed the order while it was taking stock of Class 12 exams by the state boards, following the cancellation by the CBSE and CISCE boards. The court was informed that Assam, Tripura, and Punjab have cancelled Class 12 state board exams in view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Bar & Bench reported.
“We will examine points in both schemes. If there is some issue, we can understand, but we cannot go by the perception of someone,” the court observed, as quoted by Bar & Bench.
The SC on Thursday, 17 June, had approved the assessment plans submitted by the CBSE and the Council for evaluation of Class 12 students.
(With inputs from Bar & Bench.)
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