CHENNAI: A day after the Tamil Nadu government announced that board exams for classes X and XII would be conducted from June 1, a lawyer on Wednesday moved the Madras high court seeking a direction to the authorities to postpone the exams till the state reports zero Covid-19 cases.
Pointing out that the state is witnessing a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases almost every day, advocate S Stalinraja said conducting exams in such a situation would put the children at the risk of getting infected.
This apart, students from containment zones would not be able to attend the exams, he added.
The plea, moved as a public interest litigation, is likely to be taken up by a division bench headed by Justice Vineet Kothari on May 14.
The petitioner, while referring to reports of experts and the WHO, said, “As per the reports, Covid-19 cases in the state would be at its peak in the months of June and July. Besides this, approximately 10 lakh students are going to appear for the exams where maintenance of social distancing would not be practically possible, particularly considering their age and maturity.”
He added that for students from villages who attend schools in nearby towns it would be an added disadvantage as public transportation is still not made available in many parts of the state.
Therefore, considering the importance of such exams and the impact it would have on the career of the children, the petitioner wanted the state to postpone the exams till the state reports zero Covid-19 cases.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/madras-high-court-moved-to-postpone-classes-x-and-xii-board-exams-till-tamil-nadu-reports-zero-covid-19-cases/articleshow/75719821.cms
