[Breaking] Karnataka Govt Decides To Go Ahead With KCET On July 30, 31 & August 1; Hearing In HC Underway [Read Govt Reply]

The Karnataka Government has decided to go ahead with Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) scheduled for July 30, 31 and August 1. A written submission to that effect has been filed in the Court which is hearing a plea challenging the conduct of exams in the state amid the pandemic situation.

A hearing in the Karnataka High Court is currently underway with regard to a batch of petitions challenging the decision of the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to conduct the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET).

AAG Dhyan Chinnappa has submitted that Karnataka Government says that till date 1,84,368 students have downloaded the hall tickets and it is "neither feasible nor proper in the larger interests of students" to stop carrying out the KCET and that the State should go ahead with the KCET as planned.

Rebutting the stand of the State Government, Senior Advocate Ponnanna appearing for NSUI karnataka has stated that the Contagion is "rapidly spreading"

The Karnataka High Court on July 28 directed the State Government to reconsider the decision to hold Karnataka Common Entrance Test(KCET) amid the rising cases of COVID-19 in the state.

The KCET was proposed to be held on July 30 and 31, as per a notification issued by the government on May 13.

Taking note of the concerns raised by the petitioners, who challenged the government decision, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay Sreenivas Oka observed :

"During the last two weeks, every day around 5,000 positive cases are detected in the state and around 1500 cases were reported daily from Bengaluru. There are more than 5000 containment zones in Bengaluru. The SOP of government says that no one is allowed to leave Containment Zones. Moreover, Public transport will not be available too. There is a possibility of students missing out on the exam".

In the light of these factors, the bench directed the State to reconsider the question of holding the CET. The state must place its decision on record before the Court tomorrow at 2.30 pm.

"We are sure that the state will take into consideration several aspects and some students missing the exams due to prevailing conditions", the bench observed.

The Court passed the order in three writ petitions challenging the decision to hold CET exams.

The writ petitions were filed by: 1) Group of Students and NSUI 2) Adv Pradeep 3) Adv Abdullah Mannan Khan.

While the bench observed that the petitions approached the Court late, at the '11th hour', to challenge the decision taken in May, it passed the order taking note of the drastic situation caused by the pandemic.

The petitioners also highlighted that students in containment zones will face difficulties in attending the examination, resulting in denial of equal opportunities to the student community, which is a violation of the equality clause under Article 14 of the Constitution.

Click Here To Download Govt Reply

[Read Govt Written Submission]