Coronavirus: Karnataka HC refuses to stay KCET exam scheduled from July 30

A total of 1,94,356 students will write the CET exams at 120 places in 497 centres across the state

Bengaluru, First Published Jul 30, 2020, 9:56 AM IST | Last Updated Jul 30, 2020, 9:56 AM IST

Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court on Wednesday rejected the plea to postpone the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) which is scheduled on July 30 and 31.

A division bench, comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice MI Arun, refused to stay the May 13, 2020 notification of Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) announcing the dates.

"Authorities shall make sure that conditions in the standard operating procedure issued by the Union ministry of health and the guidelines of the state are scrupulously followed by all," the high court stated in its order.

The court was hearing a petition filed by candidates on Tuesday challenging the notification passed by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) to conduct the exams on July 30-31, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The high court also directed the KEA and other state authorities to provide transportation and other logistical support to students, their parents, wherever needed, including those staying in containment zones.

Court also said that no COVID positive student should be denied the opportunity of writing the examination just because documents are not provided.

A total of 1,94,356 students will write the CET exams at 120 places in 497 centres across the state.

In Bengaluru City, 40,200 students will write CET in 83 centres. Of the total number of students, there are 30 foreign students.

Outstation students and their guardians who will travel to Karnataka to appear for the Common Entrance Test (CET) will be exempted from home-quarantine norms and allowed to stay in the state for 96 hours.

There are around 1,881 students from other states. Separate centres have been arranged for COVID-positive students.

In the interest of the students, a statement from the Deputy CM’s office said earlier, the state government has taken all precautionary measures under the in-charge of respective deputy commissioners while the SOP has already been framed.

Thermal screening, wearing of masks and physical distance will be strictly followed, and the exam centres will be sanitised two days prior to the exam dates, a statement said.

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