The decision to conduct offline examinations of Class XII CBSE and ICSE students has left the students disappointed as they are of opinion that conducting exams in covid times is risky. As per a Live-Law report, reacting over the decision, Youth Bar Association of India on behalf of a group of 521 students has approached the Supreme Court seeking intervention in the plea filed for cancellations of the examinations.
The association has sought intervention in the PIL filed by Advocate Mamta Sharma seeking directions for setting aside the notification dated 14th,16th and 19th April 2021 issued by CBSE and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination only in respect of clauses dealing with postponement of Class XII examination.
A vacation bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari will hear the PIL on Monday, May 31st.
The application has stated that amidst a medical catastrophe, the decision to conduct offline examination will be irrational, unjust and unfair. The association cited news reports of the Centre and states meeting which had decided to physically conduct Board exams between July 15 and August 26.
According to the applicant, 'conducting offline examination will be in sheer violation of the Right to Life and Personal Liberty as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution which includes within its ambit, Right to Health."
The application has stated, "When in view of the pandemic, examination of Class X are cancelled, there is no reason that we can afford to take a risk and expose Class XII students to this enormous and life threatening health hazard."
The association called Centre's decision 'mindless service' in the application and stated that conduct of physical examination will not take into account the condition of the Covid positive students, who will not be in a position to appear in the examination. Further, no vaccination for the age group below 18 years is yet effected and there is already apprehension of third wave and a fear that it will affect the children.
The applicant has submitted that the postponement of Class XII examination has created a cloud of uncertainty in the minds of the students and that a timely decision is required in order to protect the interest of the students, as due to the postponement of exams, the students will loose opportunites applying in the foreign universities.
