The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the petitions challenging CBSE and the CICSE's decision to cancel Class 12 board examinations.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the petitions challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the CICSE's decision to cancel Class 12 board examinations and also approved the assessment schemes proposed by the boards to evaluate students.
A vacation bench of the apex court, headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar and also comprising Justice Dinesh Maheshwari dismissed the petitions.
Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari said: "We hold that there is no need to interfere with the scheme propounded by the CBSE and the ICSE. It takes into account concerns of all students."
The bench noted that if other boards have conducted exams, that doesn't necessarily mean that boards before it -- CBSE and ICSE -- are bound to do that. "These Boards are independent Boards. They have taken the decision to cancel exams which, according to them, is in larger public interest of the students," said the bench.
A batch of petitions were filed before the top court challenging the decision of CBSE and ICSE to cancel the examinations due to the COVID-19 situation.
During the course of the hearing, the apex court observed that the students' life is precious and they cannot be forced to take their examination during this pandemic.
The Centre today also submitted to the top court what justified its decision to cancel the Board examinations. "Both the writ petitions, intervention applications, disposed of," said Justice Khanwilkar, leading the bench of the Supreme Court, while pronouncing the order.
The top court upheld the submissions of the Attorney General, representing the Centre, that the schemes have been formulated by expert body. The bench said that all aspects were taken into account and decision regarding formulation of scheme was taken with holistic approach, to ensure that no candidate is prejudiced.
"We will uphold the scheme as formulated by boards, which are independent boards and entitled to take decisions regarding exams to be conducted by them," it said.
The CBSE on Monday filed an additional affidavit before the Supreme Court informing that the results for Class 12 board exams would be declared by July 31.
The CBSE in the affidavit said that the disputes regarding the result computation will be referred to a committee. The Board said that the examination will be held tentatively between August 15-September 15, when the situation is conducive, and marks in the optional exam are to be treated as final marks.
(With agency inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "CBSE")
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}