New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed petitions challenging the decision to cancel the CBSE and ICSE examinations. Hearing held on Tuesday, the court has given its approval to the evaluation plan brought by the board to evaluate the examination pattern. While giving its verdict, the court called it a decision taken in the public interest.
The 12th class examination of both the boards has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The top court rejected the objection of a parent’s association and said that no other remedy is possible in respect of various aspects of the assessment plan. A special bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari said, “We accept the plan brought by both the boards (CBSE and CISCE).
The bench, personally assisting the court and appearing for the Centre, appointed Attorney General (Attorney General) K.K. Venugopal’s contention that the University Grants Commission (UGC) would issue directions to all colleges and universities that all boards—Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), and state boards— Admission should be done after the declaration of results.
The court, while disposing of the main objections of all the interventionists – Uttar Pradesh Parents’ Association and second compartment and private students – said that the scheme which has been brought cannot be doubted merely with the apprehension that CBSE schools may be in favor of their students. The marks will be manipulated.
The bench, after hearing Venugopal’s arguments, said that if students are given the option of internal assessment, then as per the plan, their results will be declared by July 31 and after that, they can opt for correction in case of lesser marks. The bench said that the wise decision of the boards to cancel the class 12 examinations have been taken in the larger public interest.
