ICSE Board exams can’t be held due to COVID-19, state govt tells Bombay HC

The Government of Maharashtra informed the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that ICSE Board exams cannot be permitted to take place in the state due to the current situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, LiveLaw.in has reported.

A Division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice SS Shinde was hearing via video conferencing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Arvind Tiwari, who is also a father of a class X student. He sought directions for cancellation of the remaining ICSE and ISC board exams scheduled to be held from July 2 all over Maharashtra and declaration of results on the basis of gradation and past performance.

Advocate General AA Kumbhakoni informed the court that the said decision was taken in a State Disaster Management Committee meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held on June 22. A similar decision to not conduct the University exam for final year students was taken at the same meeting.

Additional Chief Secretary, School Education Department Vandana Krishna wrote to the Advocate General informing him about the said decision and the decision to not allow final year University students to take exams. The letter added that the above information must be conveyed to the High Court.

Moreover, regarding the status of CBSE exams to be conducted across the country, the bench was informed that matter is pending before the Supreme Court.

Previously, CISCE Board had informed the High Court that students of class 10 and 12 have the option to not appear in the remaining board exams of ICSE and have the result completed on the basis of marks obtained in pre-board examinations or internal assessment and also the marks awarded in the papers which he/she has already written before the lockdown.

Senior Advocate Darius Khambatta appeared on behalf of CISCE and had submitted that a decision has been taken by the Council wherein several options have been made available for the examinees. Apart from physical appearance to write the examinations, the decision also gives an option to an examinee, who is not willing to write the examination physically, to have his/her result completed on the basis of marks obtained at the pre-Board examination/internal assessment and also upon taking into account the marks awarded to him in the papers which he has already written.

Keeping in mind that the apex court will be informed on Thursday with regard to conducting CBSE Board exams across the country, the bench adjourned the matter till Monday, June 29.