BREAKING : Supreme Court Dismisses Plea To Postpone GATE-2022; Says 'Can't Play With Students' Careers'

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed petitions seeking postponement of the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Exam, 2022 (GATE 2022) which is scheduled to be held on 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th of February, 2022.

A bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikam Nath said that the entertaining the petition 48 hours before the exam will lead to uncertainty and chaos.

The bench passed the following order after hearing the parties :

"The plea for postponement of the GATE examination barely 48 hours before the scheduled date on 5 February 2022 is replete with a propensity for chaos and uncertainty in the lives of the students who have registered for the examination. There is no overarching reason that this court in the exercise of its jurisdiction under Article 32 of the Constitution should supplant the duties and functions of the regulatory authorities who have taken a decision to hold the examination. On a considered perspective of the position and consistent with the circumspection which must be exercised by this court in interfering with academic matters, we are not inclined to entertain a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. These petitions are accordingly dismissed"

Advocate Pallav Mongia, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that over 9 lakh students are appearing for the exams.

"We can't postpone exams. Now everything is opening up. These are academic matters which the authorities must decide. It is dangerous for the Courts to be stepping into this arena. We can't play with the career of students. You say 9 lakh students are appearing. Some petitioners have approached this court. Many others might have prepared. Now if two days before the exam the Supreme Court stays, it will create chaos", Justice Chandrachud observed at the outset.

Justice Chandrachud also pointed out that one of the petitioners is a person running a coaching institute.

"First and second wave is different. 9 lakh are appearing and 20,000 have signed an online petition. Only authorities can look into this", Justice Chandrachud said. The bench also noted that the exams were notified in August 2021.

Advocate Satpal Singh, appearing for another petitioner, submitted that many states have lockdown imposed on weekends, and holding the exam in such a situation is unfair. He urged for deferring the exam for a month.

"How do we know that the situation will be better after a month?", Justice Chandrachud asked. "You will never have an absolutely clear situation in all states. Look at the legitimacy of courts entering into these thickets. Just because some states have issues how do we play with the careers of all students who have been preparing", the judge further remarked.

Case Title: Umesh Dhande vs Union of India & Anr ( PIL), Sachin Tanwar & Ors vs Union of India & Ors

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