The decision was taken following a meeting of the State Disaster Management Committee held on June 22 under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The Bombay High Court was informed today that the ICSE Exams will not be conducted this year from July 2 as earlier scheduled on account of the COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra.
Submissions to this effect were made by Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni today on a PIL concerning the conduct of Class 10 and 12 board examinations by the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (Arvind Tiwari versus Union of India and Ors).
A similar decision has also been taken with respect to the conduct of University exams, the Court has been informed.
A note intimating the same was signed off by the Additional Chief Secretary to the Maharashtra Government.
The decision was taken following a meeting of the State Disaster Management Committee held on June 22 under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The Court was also informed further today that the decision on when the CBSE exams would be conducted is expected to be conveyed before the Supreme Court tomorrow.
The Supreme Court is hearing a plea seeking cancellation of this year's CBSE exams, filed by the parents of students scheduled to appear for their Class XII Board exams in July.
The the Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice SS Shinde has, therefore, adjourned the matter to be heard next on June 29, Monday, after the Supreme Court may pass directions on the issue.
In the meanwhile, the State has been directed to submit the full decision of the State Disaster Management Authority by the next hearing, given that the communication conveyed today does not contain the same.
The Petitioner in-Person before the High Court, Arvind Tiwari, had sought the cancellation of examinations scheduled for July 2020 and urged that the results be completed on the basis of the pre-board examinations and internal assessment report.
Appearing for an intervenor, however, Senior Counsel Dr. Birendra Saraf, had urged that an option be left to write the examination if the examinees are willing to do so. Dr Saraf had emphasized that any decision to cancel the examinations without leaving such an option would be "detrimental to their (the examinees’) interest."
On Monday, Bench had also expressed its concern over the indefinite delay in conducting exams for class 10 and 12 students on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
