Plea filed before Karnataka High Court challenging State government decision to conduct SSLC Examination for 2021

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition has been filed before the Karnataka High Court challenging the State government’s decision to conduct Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination for the academic year 2020-21, scheduled to be held on July 19 and 20..The petition filed by one SV Singre Gowda stated that amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, children are finding it difficult to understand subjects via online classes..Further, it was pointed out that online classes were not conducted properly in some institutions. In fact, in rural areas, there is no facility to conduct classes via video conference and in some areas, not even a single class was conducted, the plea said. .Therefore, conducting SSLC examinations in these circumstances may not be the most appropriate, it was submitted. .The plea also drew the attention of the Court to the fact that the State government canceled the second PUC Examination in view of COVID and passed all the students based on the marks obtained in the 10th standard, 1st PUC..Therefore, nothing prevents the government from adopting the same measures and finding solution to pass SSLC students, either on the basis of preparatory examination or on the basis of the marks obtained in the 9th standard, the petitioner contended. .With children between the age group of 1 to 18 years not being vaccinated as yet and the new Covid-19 delta plus variant being detected in the State, conducting SSLC exam would mean exposing children to the dangers of the virus.."Many parents are single parents or have a single child and if anything happens to that child can the state government get the life of the child back? Keeping this in view, canceling the examination is absolutely required," the petition said. .In view of the above, the petition prayed for the cancellation of SSLC exams or alternatively to take appropriate remedial measures to pass all the SSLC students, irrespective of repeaters based on the marks obtained in the 8th, 9th, and preparatory examination which is conducted for 10th standard..If not, the petition said that the method adopted by other States to pass 10 standard students should be adopted. .The matter is expected to be taken up next week.