Keeping in view the current covid-19 pandemic second wave situation across the country, a petition has been filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court wherein the petitioner seeks to obtain an option to “opt-out” of the examinations if the students want.
The petitioner also seeks to get a chance for the aspirants to re-appear for the intermediate and final exams following the same syllabus as the current year. Needful to mention that the examination is supposed to take place on the 5th of July 2021.
Child activist Anubha Shrivastava Sahai has filed the petition on behalf of all the CA aspirants who will be appearing for the exam this year.
Likewise, the petitioner seeks that the number of examination centers should be increased. It is necessary to have at least one exam center in every district so that the aspirants do not have to travel for long distances as that would increase the risk of spreading the virus. Additionally, the petitioner has also requested that not more than fifty students shall be allowed to sit in one examination center. For those centers which are likely to fall within the containment zones, stand-by centers should be arranged.
Apart from this, several other welfare measures have also been sought in the petition. The activist has requested the Hon’ble court that proper MHA guidelines be set for the conduct of examinations. The state should provide free medical aid and treatment to students infected with covid -9. Free vaccination and conducting the exams in a phased manner are the other pleas contained in the petition. All of this is being asked for not only the students but also the other staff who will be working in the exam halls. The petition further goes on to ask for free transportation and accommodation for the students who will have to travel long distances to write the papers. Request for online admit cards and online E-passes have also been made to the Hon’ble court.
The request has been made to the ICAI to declare the results at least seven days before the commencement of the exams via online mode.
Although some of the urges in the petition might sound too out of the way, the petitioners have intended to keep the virus from spreading and to make the functioning of the academic lives of the students safe and stable. The need and necessity to lead a normal life and the rush to do so should not result in the worsening of the situation or further sprawling of the global pandemic.
Response from the Hon’ble apex court is yet awaited.
