The Supreme Court on Thursday wondered why the Andhra Pradesh government is so firm on conducting the examinations for Intermediate second year (Class 12) physically in the last week of July.
A vacation bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari was hearing an affidavit filed by the state government stating that it would conduct the exams physically by taking all precautions in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the bench expressed lack of conviction with the state government's affidavit which stated that CC followed by ensuring that only 15 students will be there in a hall.
It pointed out that since nearly five lakh students are expected to take the exams, there should be at least 30,000 exam halls with 15 students per hall.
It asked advocate Mahfooz Nazki, counsel representing the state government, if the state had come out with any 'concrete formula to ensure the availability of so many exam halls.
"We are not convinced. Do you have so many rooms,” the bench asked.
The bench also observed that the pandemic situation is very uncertain and no one can predict what could happen during the last week of July.
The bench referred to the apprehensions raised by experts about the possible third wave and the delta variant of coronavirus.
The bench also observed that the state government was putting the students to uncertainty by not laying down a specific time line for exams and result
"You can't keep things so uncertain like this? You have to give at least 15 days’ notice. When are you going to do this?” the bench asked.
The bench wondered why the state government was so keen on conducting the exams at a time when the other state boards have cancelled the exams taking note of the ground realities.
“There is no reason why this board can't follow it just because it wants to show it is different,” the court said.
The bench also mentioned that the college admissions of Andhra State Board students will get delayed if it is insisting on holding exams in the last week of July.
"You cannot have uncertainty for declaring results. We will direct UGC to declare a cut-off for admissions. Just because your board has not conducted exams, that cannot be a ground for not starting admissions in your state. Other board students will get admissions, and your state board students will lag behind,” the judges said.
The bench also warned that if any fatality happens due to COVID, the state will be held responsible.
"And in case of any fatality, you will be held responsible", the bench warned, adding: “Unless we are convinced you are geared up to take exams without any fatality, we won't permit you to go ahead and conduct exams.”
