Hearing a case against the Tamil Nadu’s government’s decision to conduct Class X exams from June 15th, the Bench comprising Justices Vineet Kothari and R Suresh Kumar wanted to know why there is a hurry in conducting exams amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state.
The Tamil Nadu High and Higher Secondary School Graduate Teachers Association had approached the court seeking to prevent the state government from conducting the Class X Board Exams, which is scheduled to start from 15th June.
The petitioner stated that the decision to conduct the Board Exams from mid-June was taken in the month of May and it might have been under the impression that the COVID-19 the situation would improve in the state.
But on an average Tamilnadu state has also been seeing a daily increase of over 1,000 cases for the past week.
It was also stated that there were over 12,000 examination centers for Class X exams, thus indicating the manpower required amid the prevailing scenario where Tamil Nadu has seen 31,667 total COVID-19 cases, of which 14,396 are active.
The Additional Advocate General responded saying that there appeared to be a meeting between the Chief Minister of the state and the School Education Minister regarding the same.
The court asked if there was any outcome from the meeting, adding that any decision on postponement of exams must be taken immediately without keeping parents and students on tenterhooks.
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The bench also lambasted at the state government, highlighting that conducting the lass X exams was unlike the re-opening of the TASMAC (state-run liquor outlets) during the lockdown.
[splco_quote]“Can the state government give an undertaking that no student will get infected by COVID-19 if it is allowed to conduct the 10th-grade board exams from June 15th?” the bench questioned.[/splco_quote]
Stating that it is well and good if the Tamil Nadu government itself postpones the exams without letting the Damocles Sword hanging over the students’ heads till the eleventh hour.
The High Court is to hear the case against Class X exams again later in the day and seek the response of the state government.
However, the court said that Prima facie it got satisfied with the petition and therefor that the government’s decision to conduct board exams from June 15th must be stayed.
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DMK President and Opposition leader in Tamilnadu M.K Stalin who strongly opposed of conducting exams at the time of epidemic , quipped when 3650 Corona virus affected Telangana state is giving promotion for its 10th Standard Students in total why not 33229 Corona virus affected Tamilnadu state should learn from its neighbour state..
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