CBSE, CISE students file petition in Supreme Court demanding hybrid mode of exam for term 1

The CISCE, which conducts the ICSE Class 10th and ISC Class 12th annual exams, will begin the term 1 exams from Nov 15, while CBSE term 1 exams will start with minor papers from Nov 16.

Both the boards had decided to conduct the examination in offline mode. However, the students are against it.

Six students filed the petition through advocate Sumanth Nookala stating that continuous exposure through offline exams will "sharply" increase the risk of Covid infection and it is violation of Right to Health.

“Exams for major subjects in December 2021 spread over three weeks, placing the petitioners in great apprehension on the risk of infection and the impact on subsequent exams," they have said in the petition.

"Preceding the exams for major subjects in December 2021 are the exams for Minor subjects in November 2021 in physical mode, further aggravating the likelihood of turning the exams for Major subjects into Super Spreader Event,” the plea said.

“At any rate, such continuous exposure through offline exams sharply increases the risk of infection to Covid 19 rendering the impugned action as arbitrary and in violation of Right to Health,” the plea added.

The option of online exams will facilitate social distancing, and will reduce strain on logistical constraints, they have urged.

“Many students have reported that consent is being secured by resorting to misrepresentation and coercion,” the plea further added.