SC junks plea seeking cancellation of Class 10, 12 offline board exams

Rejecting the appeal, the bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar observed that such a petition creates “false hope” and “confusion” all over.  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking cancellation of offline examinations for class 10th and 12th to be conducted by all state boards, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and the National Institute of Open Schooling.

Rejecting the appeal, the bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar observed that such a petition creates “false hope” and “confusion” all over. “This creates not only false hopes, it creates confusion all over to students who are preparing,” said the bench, also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravikumar.

“Let the students do their job and let the authorities do their jobs,” the bench observed.

“You see, you are creating a conducive only. Entertaining such petitions is only increasing confusion in the system. What kind of petitions are being folded? Let authorities take decisions,” the bench headed by Justice Khanwilkar said, legal website Live Law reported.

The plea for cancelling offline exams, filed by activist Anubha Shrivastava Sahai and others, was mentioned before the apex court for urgent listing.

The plea had sought directions to the CBSE and other education boards, which have proposed to hold board examinations for classes 10 and 12 in offline mode, to devise alternate modes of assessment.

Shrivastava Sahai expressed displeasure over the verdict passed by the Supreme Court and said that due to this verdict “these students, too, will suffer like students of last two years batches.”

The CBSE has decided to conduct term two board exams for class 10 and class 12 from April 26.