BREAKING : Andhra Pradesh Cancels Class 12 Exams After Supreme Court's Critical Remarks
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to cancel Class 12 exams of state board, informed state education minister Audimulapu Suresh at a press meet today evening.Today morning, the Supreme Court had made critical remarks against the state's move to hold exams in the last week of July.The Supreme Court also directed that all state boards must formulate the scheme for assessment within 10...
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to cancel Class 12 exams of state board, informed state education minister Audimulapu Suresh at a press meet today evening.
Today morning, the Supreme Court had made critical remarks against the state's move to hold exams in the last week of July.
The Supreme Court also directed that all state boards must formulate the scheme for assessment within 10 days from today and must declare the results of assessment of Class XII by July 31.
In view of the July 31 deadline set by the Supreme Court, the Minister Audimulapu Suresh said that the state was left with no option but to cancel the exams.
"In the interests of students, the second option is exercised to cancel the exams", the Minister said.
In today's hearing in the top court, a bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari had intensely grilled the Andhra Pradesh Government's lawyer over the decision to hold physical exams "tentatively" during the last week of July.
When all the other state boards, CBSE and ICSE have cancelled the exams taking note of the COVID situation, why can't the Andhra Pradesh Government also do the same, the bench asked.
The bench also expressed lack of satisfaction with the state's assurance that COVID protocol will be followed. The state had said that it will ensure that only 15 students will be there in an exam hall. With over 5 lakh students expected to take exam, the state has to arrange over 35,000 rooms, the court observed. The court noted that the state has not specified any 'concrete steps' to ensure the availability of so many exam halls.
The bench also warned that "if any fatality occurs, the state will be held responsible".
Further, the Court said that insistence of the state to hold exams will affect the college admission of state board students, as they will lag behind CBSE/ICSE students.
Andhra Pradesh was the only state which was remaining to take a decision on cancellation of exams. Six states have conducted Class 12 exams and the remaining states cancelled it.
Reports about the Supreme Court hearing :