Citing COVID-19 Risk, Parents Move SC Against CBSE Decision To Hold Class XII Exams In July

Raising concern about the safety of their wards and other students due to COVID-19, a group of parents from Delhi -NCR have approached the Supreme Court seeking quashing of CBSE notification to conduct remaining Class XII board examination from July.

On May 18, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had issued notification announcing to hold the remaining examination of CBSE Board (Class XII) from July 1-15.

In the PIL, the parents have cited the data of All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), according to which, the pandemic would be in its peak in July and there will be about 3,00,000 COVID 19 cases.

The petition, filed through Advocate Rishi Malhotra, raised concern about the safety students saying "millions of students would be exposed to COVID-19 pandemic if they have to appear in the said examinations."

"This situation coupled with the fact that cases in India are rising dramatically and as on date there are almost 3,00,000 cases of COVID-19 patients.

Even if it is to be assumed that 50% of the cases are asymptomatic then, the said students appearing for these exams could also be potential careers themselves posing a great risk to the other family members and themselves", read the plea.

"Moreover, to assume that the students in the month of July where the temperature touches almost 45 degree C and humidity around with students wearing gloves and masks sitting in examination centres for 4 hours at stretch would be a task which would be completely hazardous to everyone", added the petition.

Earlier, respondent/CBSE considering the gravity of this pandemic has themselves cancelled the examinations of Class X and XII for its 250 odd schools which are situated abroad and has adopted criteria in awarding marks on the basis of either Practical exams conducted or internal assessment marks.

"It is highly regretful that the respondents herein have no genuine concern about putting the lives at peril of all the students pan India and have no explanation whatsoever in insisting upon holding the said examination in India," as stated in the plea while seeking quashing of the CBSE notification. 

Delhi residents Col (Retd) Amit Bathla, Poonam Singla, Charu Singh and Sunitha are the petitioners.

Earlier, the High Court of Kerala had dismissed a challenge against the State Government to hold exams for Class X under the State Board. 

A similar decision of the Tamil Nadu Government was however questioned by the Madras HC, following which the move was dropped.