Telangana HC Gives Nod To Hold Class X Exams From June 8, After Reviewing The Current COVID Conditions In The State

The High Court of Telangana has allowed the State Government to conduct Class X State Board Examinations from June 8, if necessary and after reviewing the current conditions of COVID 19 in the State. The bench however clarified that ln case they decide not to hold the Examination from June onwards, the government is directed to inform the students who are scheduled to take the Examination immediately by use of electronic, and print media.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijayesen Reddy was hearing a petition by the State Government to vacate the previous interim order and allow the conduct of exams in May as per the revised schedule.

The bench also heard an application seeking directions to ensure thermal Scanning; Mandatory wearingof Masks by the Students, Invigilators and parents and compliance with other safeguards prescribed by the Health Authorities for prevention of the spread of COVID- 19, at all the Examination Centers in the State.

The bench after taking up the application issued a slew of directions to ensure safety of students at the Examination centre.

1. Students, who are studying at smaller schools, or in those schools, where the School Administration finds it difficult to hold the Examination, are transported, to larger schools having larger campus, or to colleges, and permit them to take their Examination at larger schools, or colleges.
2. Each Examination Centre should have sufficient number of thermal Screening Kits, in order to screen the students when they are about to enter the school, or college campus.
3. The Government should ensure that helpline numbers are provided to the parents of the students, which the parents can use in case of any emergency, or in case of any confusion caused either to the parents, or to their wards.
4. The students, in Red Zone, or in Containment Zone, should be safely transported to the Examination Centre, and strict social distancing is maintained both inside, and outside the Examination hall.
5. After every examination, all examination halls, buildings, and campus, are thoroughly disinfected before commencement of the next examination.
6. There shall be a gap of two days between each examination, and two days time shall be utilized by the respondents to ensure that all the examination halls, buildings, and campuses are disinfected.

The bench has listed the matter for next hearing June 6.

-India Legal Bureau