Kerala High Court Provides A Second Chance To Nursing Students Unable To Give Offline Exam Due To Covid Attributable Reasons

The Kerala High Court on Monday ruled that nursing students who are unable to attend the offline examinations on account of reasons directly attributable to the Covid – 19 pandemic will be permitted to write the examinations at the next chance and that this second chance will be treated as their first attempt. 

Justice Anu Sivaraman remarked so while hearing a petition filed by two B.Sc Nursing students challenging the decision of Kerala University of Health Sciences to proceed with offline examinations amid the pandemic.

Advocate Arun Samuel and Advocate Jithin Babu appeared for the petitioners in the matter.

The petitioners had alleged gross illegality perpetrated by the respondents in conducting offline examinations notwithstanding the prevailing situation in the State.

However, the Court observed that since there were only two petitioners in the petition and since the examination is admittedly scheduled to be conducted on 4th August, it was not inclined to pass any orders as sought for in the petition.

Upon noticing that the petitioners had a specific case that they are unable to write the examination because they had tested positive for Covid – 19, the Single Bench held that students who cannot give the exam this time may be given a second attempt which shall be considered as a fresh attempt. 

Such students were also directed to produce documents to show the reasons for the inability to participate in the examinations scheduled to be conducted from 4th August. 

Case Title: Azna Beevi & Anr. v. State of Kerala & Ors.

Click Here To Read The Order