CBSE Compartment Exam 2020: Over 800 students writes letter petition to SC to take suo motu cognizance of matter

On Tuesday, more than 809 students across India have filed a letter petition in Supreme Court urging CJI SA Bobde and other Judgesto take suo motu cognisance of the CBSE decision to conduct compartment exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

The letter has been filed by Sandeep Saurav, National General Secretary of the All India Students Association, on behalf of the 809 students, in which it has been stated that there while there is no update on the schedule of the compartment examination, most colleges have given examination deadlines.

It has been aversed in the letter that this decision of CBSE will expose students/parents/teachers and staff to a lot of risk in view of exponential growth of the virus in the country.

The letter petition states that after CBSE declared its results, 1,50,198 students from Class X and 87,651 students from Class XII were required to write compartment exams.

Aggrieved by this, a plea was filed in SC in which the Court stated that a representation needs to be made to CBSE within a week and that decision would be taken as per law.

However, CBSE prefer to differ and stated that it would go ahead with the compartment exam.

The letter petition states that offline examination is not possible during the pandemic, as schools have been converted into quarantine centres.

"The decision of the CBSE is against the MHA Unlock III guideline dated 29.07.2020, which provides that the schools, colleges and educational institutions will remain closed."

The statement of the Union Minister of Higher Education that there is no date fixed for reopening schools is also cited.

"How can the students be then expected to appear for compartment examination in the current situation? The students are not contending the importance of exams but are seeking the appropriate direction of this Hon’ble Court only in this pandemic situation." 

The plea further notes that states like Bihar and Telangana have already cancelled the compartment examinations.

In backdrop of the above, the applicants pleaded Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter and to not conduct compartment exams until the pandemic situation normalizes.

u4emic situation normalizes.