CBSE, CISCE Board Exams SC LIVE Updates: SC Dismisses Petition, Says Such Petition Give False Hope to Students

We will not issue any directions, said the Supreme Court while dismissing the petition. “There are rules regulations in place and authorities are working. This plea is ill-advised and premature. Authorities are yet to decide the rules and dates. If the decision is not in consonance with rules then it is open to challenge,” said the Court.

CBSE told the court that the board exams should be held in offline mode as the covid-19 situation has improved. The Central government had also rolled out vaccination for teens and board aspirants are part of those eligible.

Last year, SC had refused to hold any board exam due to the second wave of coronavirus. This had led to a first-ever no-board exam year. This year, CBSE and CISCE had decided to opt for two board exams, and in case term 2 exams are canceled, the final score will be based on term 1 results. Students claim that having 2 term exams that too in different paper patterns is unfair.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct the term 2 exams from April 26. Unlike term 1, students will be allocated different exam centres for term 2 exams. This comes after allegations of cheating in term 1 exams. While the allegations that certain schools had helped students while attempting board exams could not be proven, CBSE has decided to allot exam centres for term 2 papers.

The court will take up the case for hearing at 2 PM. Only CBSE exams will be considered today. The petition also seeks similar directions on CISCE, NIOS, and the state boards.

Last year, SC had decided against holding board exams. The decision came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with several high profile ministers including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani.

Justice AM Khanwilkar led bench has taken the matter for hearing. The petition filed by Anubha Sahai on behalf of students demands alternative assessment and cancelation of board exams for CBSE, CISCE, NIOS and state board students. Court will focus only on CBSE board exams today. Petition also seeks orders on admissions based on aptitutde test.

Even though the plea filed in Supreme Court seeks cancelation for class 10, 12 board exams for all boards including state and all three central boards – CBSE, CISCE, and NIOS, the SC will hear plea only for the CBSE board students today. Plea seeks cancelation of physical exams owing to COVID-19 and assessment based on alternative criteria. It also seeks order for UGC seeking admissions into non-technical colleges based on aptitude.

The petitioner also asked UGC to constitute a committee to declare the date for admission to the colleges and a formula for assessment of class 12 students who want to pursue their further studies in non-professional courses by conducting an aptitude test or other mode of assessment within a time frame.

The petition also sought an improvement exam for those who are not satisfied with the internal assessment marks. Sahai in her petition has asked to form a committee for deciding the formula of assessment of students including compartment students as well as declaring the result within a time limit.

The petition further said that state boards have remained as mute spectators over the current situation and have not taken a timely decision. “The students are dissatisfied by this kind of behavior of State government and other boards and stressed and worried about their future and career,” the plea said.

The present writ petition, filed by child rights activist Anubha Shrivastava Sahai, has sought directions to the state boards, CBSE, ICSE, NIOS to opt for an alternative mode of assessment for the board students. “This is regarding class 10 & 12 exams. Physical classes couldn’t be conducted due to pandemic”, the counsel said.

CBSE and CISCE had decided to hold board exams twice this year. While the term 1 exams have been held, the term 2 exams are scheduled to be held in April. Both boards have announced to hold exams in last week of April. NIOS, however, is yet to decide exam dates. Since lakhs of students appear for the exam, candidates claim that holding offline exams will not be safe.

The petition has also sought uniform rules for State Boards as well. Students claim that while some state boards have declared the timetable, others are still holding discussions on the course of action.

A section of students have asked to cancel physical exams and offer an alternative mode of assessment. They also asked for a direction for UGC to constitute a committee to declare the date for admissions to various universities.