‘Such petitions give false hopes to children,’ says SC dismissing board exams cancellation plea

The highest court noted that the petition is “unwise” and “premature” and that authorities have yet to make an appropriate decision regarding the conduct of examinations of the various boards.

“Such petitions give false hope to those who will appear at the exams. Those students are being misled by this petition. Let the authorities decide. If the decision is wrong, challenge that decision. Here you want to anticipate everything,” a bank headed by Judge AM Khanwilkar told the lawyer who appeared before the petitioners.

“Not only does this create false hope, it creates confusion for all students preparing,” said the bench, which also included Judges Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravikumar.

Counsel for the petitioners said most state governments have not yet disclosed the dates for the exams.

“When the investigation is due to take place, they will disclose that data, what’s the problem,” the bank noted.

Initially, counsel for the petitioners, AS Sahai and others, referred to the injunction passed last year by the highest court in the case related to board exams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bank said that what happened in the past cannot be the basis for placing an order now.

“Maintaining such petitions creates more confusion in the system. Let the authorities make a decision,” the bank said.

“What kind of petitions are being filed,” the Supreme Court said, adding, “It’s not that because they were entertained last year because of the special circumstances and situation, we’re moving forward and this will become a norm.”

Counsel argued that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had taken the first term board exam offline in December last year and that the results have not yet been published.

He said the time limit for the statement of results is very important.

The counselor said that the situation is very uncertain for the students and that the MBBS admissions for 2021 are not yet complete.

The bank said that the authorities will investigate all aspects and that the petitioners can represent themselves there and that they will make the appropriate decision in accordance with the prevailing situation.

When counsel for the petitioners said he would limit it to two prayers, the bank said: “We will not give instructions. They are doing their job. If that action is wrong, you challenge that action, we understand.”

It said there are rules and regulations and authorities will work on the matter together.

Counsel argued that the lessons were not properly taught in most states.

The bank said authorities are aware of the situation and are monitoring it.

After referring to the ongoing parliamentary elections in some states, including Uttar Pradesh, the bank noted: “This is something unheard of. What kind of public interest lawsuit is this.”

Counsel argued that most boards’ exam dates have not yet been announced and that this would further delay the admissions process.

‘Who are you to decide that? Who are you and who are we to determine that data? They know the basic reality. They have to make logistical arrangements. They will look at the situation in general and then make a decision,” the bank said.

When counsel asked the highest court to hold the petition, the bank initially noted that it will dismiss the plea with costs.

“In our opinion, this petition is unwise. It’s premature. The authorities have yet to make the right decision regarding the conduct of the subsequent investigations in the respective councils,” the bank said.

It said that if the decision is not in accordance with the provisions of the relevant law and rules or applicable regulations, the aggrieved persons are free to lodge an objection in that regard which can be assessed on its own merits.

“No more needs to be said. Rejected,” the bank said.

The Supreme Court finds that such a petition is misleading and has seen news reports about this everywhere in the past three days.

“What kind of petitions are being filed and what kind of publicity is being given to this matter,” it said, adding: “This has got to stop.”

“Let the students do their job and let the authorities do their job,” the bank noted.

The plea was aimed at prompting the CBSE and other education boards, which have suggested keeping the exams for grades 10 and 12 offline, to come up with alternative grading methods.

The CBSE has decided to conduct second semester exams for class 10 and class 12 from April 26.

The plea went to court on Tuesday for urgent listing and the court said it would hear the case on Wednesday.

The counsel, who appeared before the petitioners, had told the court that the highest court had issued orders regarding class 10 and 12 board exams in 2020 and 2021 and the same problem is still there this year.

On June 17 last year, the highest court had approved the grading schemes of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and the CBSE, which had adopted the 30:30:40 formula for evaluating grades for 12th standard students. based on results of class 10, 11 and 12 respectively.