Moving the Supreme Court, parents of several class XII students have challenged the CBSE’s decision to conduct board examination in July, seeking that results of students be declared based on internal assessment conducted by schools in this academic year. The plea has sought to quash this year’s board exams in view of the unprecedented pandemic situation.
Citing rising Covid-19 cases and AIIMS data, the PIL claims the pandemic would be at its peak in India in July and conduction of board exams would risk the health of students, parents and invigilators by posing huge practical challenges. It points to commuting problems students will face in reaching examination centres due to lack of public transport and restraint on free movement in Covid containment zones, which may prevent students from appearing in examinations. The petition highlights cancellation of exams in many universities, states and even premier professional institutes like IITs in view of the pandemic.