<p>The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to consider a plea against the proposed Class 10 SSLC Board examination between June 25 and July 4 in Karnataka, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, Krishna Murari and S Ravindra Bhat dismissed the petition filed by Smt Rajshree against the May 27 judgement of the Karnataka High Court that had declined to cancel the examinations.</p>.<p>The court said there was no merit in the petition and the High Court's view was correct and there was sufficient protocol for the examinations, including further time to those not willing to appear.</p>.<p>"We are in agreement with the High Court of Karnataka that the writ petition filed for cancellation of SSLC Examination for the academic Session 2019-2020 did not warrant interference," the bench said.</p>.<p>"The High Court has issued several directions pertaining to the steps to be taken by the government for conducting the examinations scheduled. Even the students who would not be able to take the examinations have also been protected," the court noted in its order.</p>.<p>Karnataka's Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi defended the decision to conduct the examinations.</p>.<p>The petitioner, led by senior advocate Jayna Kothari and advocate Anandita Pujari, contended the High Court failed to appreciate that the proposed examinations would not only pose serious health risk to lives of 8.48 lakh minor students but also to 25 to 30 lakh people involved in the entire process, including travelling and gathering of large crowds.</p>.<p>The petitioner claimed it would be a complete denial of the right to health guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, despite existent Standard Operating Procedure and guidelines in place.</p>.<p>The life and health of minor students can be protected by promoting them based on their internal assessment marks taken by the school, as many other states have done, she said.</p>.<p>The petitioner also said the entire examination process would involve the travelling of more than 25-30 lakh people in the State. Many would come from within containment zones and would be forced to use crowded buses and transport facilities to reach the examination centres where not less than 500 people would be present and physical distancing would not be possible, she added.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to consider a plea against the proposed Class 10 SSLC Board examination between June 25 and July 4 in Karnataka, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, Krishna Murari and S Ravindra Bhat dismissed the petition filed by Smt Rajshree against the May 27 judgement of the Karnataka High Court that had declined to cancel the examinations.</p>.<p>The court said there was no merit in the petition and the High Court's view was correct and there was sufficient protocol for the examinations, including further time to those not willing to appear.</p>.<p>"We are in agreement with the High Court of Karnataka that the writ petition filed for cancellation of SSLC Examination for the academic Session 2019-2020 did not warrant interference," the bench said.</p>.<p>"The High Court has issued several directions pertaining to the steps to be taken by the government for conducting the examinations scheduled. Even the students who would not be able to take the examinations have also been protected," the court noted in its order.</p>.<p>Karnataka's Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi defended the decision to conduct the examinations.</p>.<p>The petitioner, led by senior advocate Jayna Kothari and advocate Anandita Pujari, contended the High Court failed to appreciate that the proposed examinations would not only pose serious health risk to lives of 8.48 lakh minor students but also to 25 to 30 lakh people involved in the entire process, including travelling and gathering of large crowds.</p>.<p>The petitioner claimed it would be a complete denial of the right to health guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, despite existent Standard Operating Procedure and guidelines in place.</p>.<p>The life and health of minor students can be protected by promoting them based on their internal assessment marks taken by the school, as many other states have done, she said.</p>.<p>The petitioner also said the entire examination process would involve the travelling of more than 25-30 lakh people in the State. Many would come from within containment zones and would be forced to use crowded buses and transport facilities to reach the examination centres where not less than 500 people would be present and physical distancing would not be possible, she added.</p>
