PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Friday refused to stay the ensuing exams of the Goa Board by declining to intervene in the conduct of the examination. The SSC and the HSSC exams will thus be held as scheduled beginning next week.
The bench of Justice Mahesh Sonak has, however, directed the State to undertake all measures for the safety of the students and the staff. The Class X board examination will be held from May 21 to June 6, while Class XII exam will be held for three papers from May 20 to May 22.
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After a marathon final hearing held through video conferencing on Friday, the bench refused to grant interim relief into a petition seeking cancellation of the exams. Petitioner Cedric Vaz and his son Kenneth Vaz had challenged the government decision while raising apprehensions on the safety of huge number of students, on the health front. They also alleged that the government and Goa Board had no permission from the Union ministry to hold the SSC examination during the lockdown period.
The bench, however, declined to accept the contention for want of support material. “Based upon the apprehension by the petitioners, not quite supported by any concrete material as such on record, it will not be possible to interfere with the conduct of the examinations. However, the State government and Goa Board will have to take all measures necessary to ensure the safety of the students as well as the personnel involved in holding of such examinations,” the order states.
The government and Goa Board assured the High Court to take all precautions at the time of holding the examination, which has been accepted by the court. “Assurances in the replies filed by the State government and the Goa Board are accepted as undertakings given to this Court and the directions are issued to both the State government as well as the Goa Board to ensure that all such measures are implemented and lives and well being of the students and the personnel to conduct the examination is not put into any jeopardy,” the 14-page order reads further.
The bench has also directed the government and Goa Board to continuously monitor and assess the situation at examination centers and if necessary, to make suitable orders so that there is no compromise on the safety and well being of the students and the staff. “Although, the SSC examination is a mile stone, as urged by the Advocate General, obviously, the safety and well-being of the students, will be a priority which will undoubtedly rank over and above such mile stone… the interim relief declined in these matters. These matters be placed for consideration in the regular course,” the order stated.
BOARD ASSURANCES
. For every school having 100 and above candidates, exam centre will be school of which candidates are students
. Schools having less than 100 candidates will be clubbed together for allotting examination centres to students
. Minimum 5 volunteers at each sub centre, in addition to deputy conductor, invigilators/supervisors, ancillary staff
. Students will have option of arriving through own transport or buses to be made available
. Buses will be made available by schools and if required ‘Bal Rath’ buses will be pressed into service
. If needed KTC buses will be made available to schools
. Attendant in bus will ensure students follow norms of social distancing
. Students shall be brought to exam centres in staggered manner
. Pick up and drop point will be marked 200 meters from exam centre for students arriving by own transport
. These students will walk to exam centre and be guided by volunteers
. Volunteers shall provide students with hand sanitiser and ensure students are wearing adequate face masks
. Exit from examination centre will also be in staggered manner
. Students unable to attend exam if they display symptoms of COVID-19 or test results for COVID-19 are awaited, shall be permitted to answer supplementary exam
. Separate centre for students in home quarantine, facility quarantine or hospital isolation
. Students who on exam day exhibit symptoms of sneezing or coughing will be accommodated in separate block
. Students from across the border shall be placed in different sub-centre
. Two days prior to exam date, exam centres, furniture, toilets, buses will be sanitised
. Persons will be responsible to coordinate with PHC in event of any medical emergency
. Orientation programs for conduct of exam held
