CLAT 2020: SC refuses to permit students with COVID-19 to appear for exam against SOPs, makes one exception

Common Law Admission Test, CLAT 2020 is scheduled to be conducted today – September 28, 2020. A plea was presented in the Supreme Court challenging the SOPs laid out by Consortium which does not permit COVID19 positive patients to appear for the examination. Supreme Court has refused to permit the students but has conceded to make an exception.

 Minutes before the beginning of the exam, a special petition was moved in the Supreme Court to permit students suffering from COVID19 to appear for the examination in isolation centre. Taking cognizance of the matter, Supreme Court has allowed the petitioner but refused to pass a blanket order ahead of the examination.

While passing the order, the apex court pointed out that the time was too less to discuss and pass a blanket order. The bench has, however, allowed the petitioner to appear for the examination from an isolation centre. The printout of the order would be taken to the exam centre and the candidate would be allowed to appear in isolation rooms.

Advocate Garima Prashad and Avocate Sumit Chander appearing for the petitioners argued that there are many students but the court pointed out that there was no time as the examination is due to begin shortly. The consortium had released SOPs for conducting the CLAT examination which clearly state that COVID19 positive students would not be allowed to appear for the examination.

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