Four students, allegedly representing all students of Assam, have filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court, seeking cancellation of Classes X and XII board exams in the state.
These exams are being conducted by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) and the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA). The students have sought intervention in the writ, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The intervener applicants further prayed to the state government, SEBA, and AHSEC be directed to arrive at a formula for performance evaluation of the students of Assam in line with the formula adopted by the CBSE and other education boards and to release the results in a time-bound manner and allow students to file their objections within a reasonable period of time, in case they are not satisfied with the results so published.
These applicants are students of the Ramanujan Junior College, Concept Junior College and Christ Jyoti School, all at Nagao, Assam, and say that they are being compelled to appear in the offline examinations of X and XII State Board Examination amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation, causing a huge threat to their lives.
The applicants want the State of Assam, Department of Secondary Education, Director of Higher Education, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC), Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) all as parties. They have prayed that for the effective and proper adjudication of the writ petition, it is essential that the present intervener applicants be heard and allowed to participate in the writ petition already pending before the court. This will be helpful in the greater interest of the students of Assam, the application says.
The AHSEC issued a notification on May 4, 2021 and postponed the board examinations scheduled to be held from May 11 until further orders. Subsequently, the SEBA vide a notification of May 4, cited prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation in the state of Assam in deciding to postpone the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) / Assam High Madrassa (AHM) Examination 2021.
They have further prayed that since some states have already decided to cancel the board examination for this academic year on the ground of prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation, it is humbly submitted that in the interest of justice and equity, for the safety of lakh of students, their parents, guardians and family members from the State of Assam and for the effective and proper adjudication of the writ petition, the present applicant may kindly be allowed to participate in the present proceeding.
Applicants have taken the ground of right to equality enshrined under the Article 14 of the Constitution of India, the rapid growth in the infection rate of Covid-19. They have further pleaded that in the State of Assam the State Government has vaccinated nearly 20% of its population only. So, in the prevailing circumstances, the life of the students should be give more importance and examinations should only be conducted after vaccinating the maximum number of people, including the students.
The IA number has not been provided to the applicant’s yet but the Writ Petition has been listed for hearing on June 17.
Source: ILNSRead Also: