Declining a plea filed by students seeking conduction of 10th and 12th CBSE board exams in hybrid or virtual mode, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that the request was made at the eleventh hour and it could not be considered now. The order was passed after both sides presented their arguments. Hence, the Class 10 and 12 - CBSE and ICSE Term 1 exam for the year 2022 will be held as per schedule, keeping the Covid safety protocols in place.
The bench comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice CT Ravi Kumar were hearing a petition filed by six students of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).
The CBSE and ICSE boards have started the classes for this academic year in online mode.
Also Read: ‘Hamari Beti’ Weekly Program on PU Community Radio completes 220 episodes
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who is representing CBSE told the court that all the necessary precautions have been taken for the board exams this time while the number of examination centres is also increased from 6,500 to 15,000. To maintain physical distance, there will be 12 students placed in one classroom.
The plea was filed scheduled to be taken up on 15 November 2021 but got delayed.
"It would not be appropriate to intervene and disturb the entire process," the court said, adding that it “hopes and trusts” that authorities will follow all precautions and measures to assure that no one is exposed to anything adverse during the exam process.
Also Read: CBSE to conduct board exams for class 10, 12 in new pattern from Nov 16, checkout the datesheet
The petition filed by the students challenged the CBSE and CISCE decision to conduct the 10th and 12th board exams in offline mode, in which it also sought the quashing of two circulars from both the boards. These circulars are CBSE's circular of 14 October 2021 and CISCE's circular of October 22, 2021. Both these notices issued have been scheduled for the Term 1 examination and will be held in offline mode.
The petitioners in their submission alleged that conducting the Term 1 exam in offline mode is not a wise decision and increases the chance of transmitting the Covid virus. Further, they argued their point saying the student's age group is more vulnerable to contracting the infection as they have not been vaccinated.