Ruling out uniform criteria for evaluation by different state education board, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked them to formulate their own assessment schemes for Class 12 exams within 10 days. The SC has also directed them to declare the results latest by July end, the time-line specified for CBSE and ICSE boards.
A vacation bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari noted all boards, with the exception of Andhra Pradesh, have cancelled their Class 12 exams. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) was the last to cancel the examination as its counsel said it is in the process of formulating the assessment scheme.
Andhra Pradesh counsel Mehfooz Nazki maintained that the state is going to conduct examinations for Class 12 in the last week of July. On this, the court sought to know how the state is going to ensure adherence to Covid-19 protocol and how it would arrange over 34,000 rooms for allowing just 15 students in one room.
"We are not very convinced about this. How can we permit you to put life of students at risk? You have to put before us proper firm decision," the bench said, seeking a well-defined formulated plan and fixed further hearing on Friday at 2 PM on advocate Nazki seeking time to take instructions on certain aspects discussed in the course of the hearing.
The Andhra Pradesh Government on Thursday evening cancelled the physical examination of Class 12 it planned to conduct after the critical remarks by the judges in the SC. "When all others have cancelled (XII exam), you cannot hold it to show that you are different," Justice Khanwilkar remarked.
The Court, however, made it clear that it is not endorsing the correctness or validity of the proposed schemes to be formulated by the concerned boards. "That will be considered on its own merits, if and when an occasion arises."
