No SSC exams from Monday
Today’s exam will take place as per schedule
The state government indefinitely postponed SSC examinations that were to be held from March 23 to 30, following a rebuke from the Telangana High Court on Friday. The exams on March 21 would take place as scheduled.
The court direction came over concerns of the spread of the Coronavirus. “What is the point in taking the risk of holding SSC examinations when the entire world is going through panic due to the Coronavirus pandemic?” asked the division bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A. Abhishek Reddy, of the
I cannot imagine 30 students being confined for two hours in the examination hall... If a single child tests positive, leave the career and psychological impact, it will be the end for the child.
— JUSTICE RAGHVENDRA SINGH CHAUHAN, CJ
state government.
The court was hearing a petition, as an urgent case, by Bala Krishna Mandapati seeking a postponement of the exams due to Covid-19.
“All educational institutions across the country are closed... CBSE and ICSE have postponed examinations. The Prime Minister, yesterday, appealed to people to follow ‘Janata Curfew’.
When the PM appeals to people to refrain from going out, how can the state hold SSC exams, jeopardising the lives of young children? This court has even advised counsel not to congregate in the court halls,” the CJ said.
“In Karimnagar, seven positive Covid-19 cases were identified. If, God forbid, one child is infected, what will be the fate of children and parents? If suppose a couple has only one child and that child is infected with the Coronavirus, what will be the fate of the couple?”
Advocate General B.S. Prasad said the state government had taken precautionary measures, like sanitisers and masks, in examination halls to ensure the safety of students. Students who had cough and cold would be segregated.
“The exams are underway,” he said. “At this stage, if examinations are postponed, it will have a psychological impact on students and their careers will be hit. The state is well prepared to hold exams.”
In response, the CJ said: “I am sorry; I cannot imagine 30 students being confined for two hours in the examination hall. If one child falls prey, then the lives of all 30 are at stake and I will not allow this to happen. If a single child tests positive, leave the career and psychological impact, it will be the end for the child.”