“You’re late”: SC dismisses CBSE, ICSE students’ plea seeking hybrid mode in 10th, 12th term exams

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea filed by CBSE, ICSE students to conduct Class 10, 12 term 1 exams in hybrid mode, the LiveLaw reported.

The bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar dismissed the writ petition observing that the CBSE term 1 exams have already started on November 16 and ICSE term exams are commencing from November 22, so an intervention at this point would disturb the whole process, the report said.

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"...as the exam has commenced on November 16, it will be inappropriate to intervene now and disturb the entire process. At this belated stage, the Writ Petition cannot be entertained. We hope and trust that all the precautions will be taken by the authorities and COVID SOP will be adhered to," the LiveLaw quoted the bench as saying in the order.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who appeared for the petitioners, submitted that the pandemic is not yet over.

When the bench pointed out that the exams have already begun, Hegde submitted, "Those were minor papers, which only a few students write. Major papers, which include languages, Maths, science, they have not yet come". He added that since the exams are in MCQ format, an online option can be easily given, the LiveLaw reported.

“You’ve come so late Mr Hegde,” the LiveLaw quoted Justice Khanwilkar as saying.

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Six students had moved the top court seeking an online option to appear in Class 10, 12 board exams 2022.

The petitioners had also raised their concerns over the possible spread of COVID-19 as the board exam 2022 datesheet for major subjects is spread over three weeks.

The bench took note of the submissions by Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBSE, that adequate arrangements have been adopted to address the concerns of the petitioners regarding the pandemic, the report said.

Mehta submitted that exam centres have been increased from 6,500 to 15,000 this year and only 12 students will sit for exams at a time. The duration of the exam has also been reduced for ensuring the safety measures, he said. Bringing a change at this point when 34 lakh students are appearing for the board exams would be difficult, SG said, as per the report.

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Both the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) had announced plans to hold the CBSE Class 10, 12 and CISCE Class 10, 12 exams in offline mode.

Earlier, the CISCE gave students an option to appear in online mode and later took a u-turn and announced that the ICSE term 1 exams will be held in offline mode only.