CBSE, CISCE Term 1 Board Exams 2022: SC Dismisses Students’ Plea Seeking Hybrid Option

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by a group of six students demanding an option to hold CBSE and CISCE boards class 10 and 12 exams in online mode along with the center-based offline exams on November 18. The bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar dismissed the petition observing that the exams have already commenced on November 16 and intervention at this juncture will disturb the process.Also Read – CBSE Board Exams 2022: After Moving SC, Students Urge CBSE to Hold Board Exams In Offline Mode, #Cbseterm1online Trends on Twitter

The Supreme Court bench in its order said, “…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.” Also Read – CBSE, CISCE Term 1 Exams 2022: Students File Petition in Supreme Court, Demand Exam in Online Mode

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the CBSE said that adequate arrangements have been adopted to address the concerns of the petitioners regarding COVID and the examination centres have been increased from 6,500 to 15,000 to ensure more social distancing and less travel time. Now only 12 students will sit in a centre, as opposed to 40 students earlier. Also, the exam time has been reduced from 3 hours to 90 minutes. Also Read – CBSE Board Exams 2021-22: Board Plans To Use Advanced Data Analytics To Prevent Cheating, Irregularities

The lawyers representing boards said that at present it is tough to arrange the exams online as they have approached late. “But I am not taking the ground of delay. The petitioners’ concerns we have taken care of. This time only 12 students will be sitting in a class so that there is social distancing,” said the lawyers.

On behalf of students, a senior advocate has claimed that these exams are mid-terms and it is premature to hold offline exams. He said that these children appearing for exams could be living with people with comorbidities.  Solicitor General, however, told the court that the boards have taken stricter precautions. In total 34 lakh students are giving the exam. Earlier 40 students were made to sit in one class, and now only 12 will be allowed considering social distancing.

The plea was filed by advocate Sumanth Nookala who will be representing students in the court today. “Exams for major subjects in December 2021 are spread over three weeks, placing the petitioners in great apprehension on the risk of infection and the impact on subsequent exams. Preceding the exams for major subjects in December 2021 are the exams for Minor subjects in November 2021 in physical mode, further aggravating the likelihood of turning the exams for Major subjects into a Super Spreader Event,” the plea said.

The plea further added said that the continuous exposure through offline center-based exams will “sharply” increase the risk of Covid infection and it is a violation of the Right to Health. It added, “At any rate, such continuous exposure through offline exams sharply increases the risk of infection to Covid 19 rendering the impugned action as arbitrary and in violation of Right to Health.” Hence, the option of online exams, the plea added will facilitate social distancing, and will reduce strain on logistical constraints.

Both CBSE and CISCE have decided to hold the 2021-22 board exams in two terms. CBSE term 1 exam will begin on November 16 with minor papers and ICSE (Class 10) exams will begin on November 22.