Supreme Court refuses to conduct CBSE, CISCE Board Exams 2022 in hybrid mode

The Supreme Court however did give instructions that if there are any shortcomings in COVID-19 measures during examinations then they should be immediately remedied by the authorities.

CBSE Term 1 Exams 2022: The Supreme Court of India has refused to make changes in the mode of conduct of CBSE Term 1 Exam 2022 and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). The petition requesting hybrid mode of exams -- online and offline has been disposed by the Supreme Court Bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice CT Ravikumar. The Supreme Court however did give instructions that if there are any shortcomings in COVID-19 measures during examinations then they should be immediately remedied by the authorities.

Warning the petitioners against last-minute interruption in the conduct of exams, the SC bench passed strong remarks during the hearing. CBSE Term-1 exams 2022 commenced on November 15 and CISCE exams will begin next week. The court stated that it would be inappropriate to disturb the exams at this stage, the bench said, adding that the government has taken COVID precautionary measures to ensure the safety of students. “Don't mess up with the education system. Let the authorities do their job well. It is too late now. This last-minute business should be discouraged”. “Exam centres increased from 6,500 to 15,000. Exam duration reduced from 3 hours to 1.5 hours...Hope and trust that authorities will take all care to ensure that students and staff are not exposed to untoward situations,” the bench said.

Arguing that conducting board exams via offline mode would put students at the risk of COVID-19 infection. "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," they said in the petition. A hybrid mode of examination is the need of the hour, as it better facilitates social distancing, reduced strain on logistical constraints, they said.

Disposing of the plea, the Supreme Court countered the arguments stating that the Board has increased the number of examination centres to address that issue.

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