Bombay HC allows conduct of Goa SSC, HSSC exams 2020 amid COVID-19 lockdown

As the MHA also gave permission to conduct the board exams 2020 taking proper precautions against the COVID-19 spread, Bombay HC also permitted the conduction of Goa SSC and HSSC examinations 2020.

The Bombay High Court on May 20, permitted the Goa government to conduct SSC and HSSC examinations after the Union Home Ministry also gave permission in writing for the conduct of exams during the ongoing lockdown.

Talking about the conduct of Goa Board Exams 2020, Advocate General Devidas Pangam said, “With the High Court order, there was now “no legal impediment” in holding the exams for the SSC which get underway on May 21 and the remainder of the HSSC exam which begins on Wednesday (May 20).”

Mr. Pangam further added, “The stand of the government, that it is right and proper for the benefit for the student community to hold these examinations at this stage, has been vindicated by today’s order of the High Court.”

Talking about the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the advocate added, “The MHA has permitted the holding of HSSC and SSC examinations in the state. There was no reservation on the part of the MHA.”

Approximately, 11,000 students are waiting to appear for the Goa SSC exams and several thousand are eligible to appear for the remaining three papers of the Goa HSSC exam. The schedule for the Goa Board Exams 2020 got ruptured after the imposition of the nationwide lockdown in the month of March in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Talking about the steps being taken to conduct the board exams safely, Mr Pangam said, “the government had made several arrangements for the conduct of the examinations, including limiting 12 students to a classroom in view of social distancing norms and setting up of proper sanitisation facilities in school premises.”

Reacting to the HC order, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said “All cases in Goa are imported and there is no community transmission. The mental stress faced by students (about the fate of the Board exams) was more than the fear of corona. I welcome the court decision. People should stop doing politics over students.”

Earlier, revealing the Goa SSC Time Table 2020 and Goa HSSC Time Table 2020 Board chairman Ramakrishna Samant stated that Goa HSSC (Class 12) examinations for the two pending papers will be held from May 20 to May 22, while the Goa SSC (Class 10) exams for all papers will be held from May 21 onwards.

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