The students from Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) and Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) have approached the Supreme Court of India seeking directions,
alia, for the cancellation of Class 10 and 12 State Board Examinations in Assam. The relief has been sought through an application seeking intervention and direction in the writ petition filed earlier (WP(C) 620 of 2021) before the Apex Court for cancellation of State Board Examinations.The application has stated that the positivity rate in the State of Assam on July 1, would have no relevance in mid-July-August, when the examinations are proposed to be conducted.The application has stated that, “positivity rate data is very dynamic in nature which has the potential to increase or decrease exponentially within the span of less than 24 hours”.The applicants have argued that to ensure safety of physical as well as mental health of the students and to secure equality among the students of various boards, it is just, reasonable and equitable that the State Board Exams in Assam are cancelled. The application has stated that, “classification sought to be made in present case between CBSE, CISE and other State Board Students on one hand and the students of Assam SEBA and AHSEC board students on the other is prima facie irrational, unreasonable and is bad in law on the ground of violation of the basic feature of our Constitution, namely, the principles of equality enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution”.Advocate Abhishek Choudhary, has said that health and safety of all the students irrespective of the education board they belong to, are of utmost importance and should be protected at any cost.Assam’s education department is holding a series of meetings on how to hold exams because the present system of marking in Assam does not have internal assessment which necessitates holding of exams.Education Minister Ranoj Pegu recently held a detailed discussion with several student organisations. Pegu had said that the class 10 and 12 examinations under the state boards will take place and the Education Department will soon bring out an SOP in consultation with the Health Department for holding the tests in coming months.Assam chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma recently said, “If the positivity rate is below 2 percent on July 1 exam will be held however we will cancel the exams if the positivity rate does not come down. Students must keep on studying. The questions will be objective.”
Source: Economic Times
