SC dismisses plea challenging Kerala govt's decision to hold physical exam for Class 11

This comes after the government assured the top court that all Covid-19 precautions will be taken while conducting the exams

The Supreme Court on Friday approved the Kerala government's decision to conduct offline exam for Class XI after expressing satisfaction over the explanations given by the state authorities and also noting that the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic does not seem to be in offing immediately.

A bench presided over by Justice A M Khanwilkar said we hope and trust the authorities would take necessary precautions for Covid-19 pandemic.

"We are convinced by the explanation offered by the state and trust authorities will take all precautions and necessary steps so that no untoward situation is faced by students who are of tender age and appearing for the proposed examination," the bench said.

The court modified its order of stay passed on September 3 and dismissed a petition by Rasoolshan A, represented by advocate Prashant Padmanabhan, challenging Kerala High Court order declining to interfere with the state government decision to conduct offline exams.

The bench pointed out over one lakh students appeared in physical exams of A P J Abdul Kalam University in August and several lakhs participated in NEET last week.

The bench further said we intervened in the matter earlier on the basis of reports of third wave of Covid-19 pandemic in third week of September but now it did not seem to be in the offing immediately.

The state government, in its affidavit, has claimed online examinations would prejudice students belonging to backward classes having no access to computer and mobile phone, besides disrupting academic cycle and affecting future of students. Further, the Class XI marks are added to Class XII scores for the purposes of higher education, making it imperative to hold offline exams, it said.

On September 3, the top court had stayed the decision to conduct Class XI examinations in offline mode from September 6, saying children of tender age can't be exposed to risk in view of alarming situation in state.

"There is an alarming situation in Kerala. It accounts for nearly 70 % cases of the country, with more than 30,000 daily cases. Children of tender age can't be exposed to risk," the court had said.

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