A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to refund the exam cost for the cancelled class 10,12 board exam was denied by the Supreme Court. Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and AM Khanwilkar served on the bench.
Case Details
Case Title:Â Association of Private Schools of UP and another v. Union of India Bench: Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari
The Supreme Court of India dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to return the exam fee for the cancelled class 10,12 board exam.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, most board exams in the country have been compensated for the year 2021. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justices AM Khanwilkar made up the bench.
The Court has declined to reimburse state governments for the cancelled board examination fee.
Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and AM Khanwilkar stated that the subject does not merit scrutiny in rejecting the PIL. Boards were said to have to make preparations and other logistical measures for the tests.
The board approved and appreciated the impossibility of state boards to return test fees to students, highlighting the position adopted by boards.
Supreme Court Dismisses a Petition
The reason for this is that the panels had to make extensive preparations in terms of logistics and management. However, because everything was cancelled at the last minute, the boards were forced to face their brunt.
“For, the explanation made by the boards on affidavit about their inability to repay the indicated amount having spent the same for preparatory work,” the bench observed in the case titled Association of Private Schools of UP and others versus Union of India.
The Central Board of Secondary Examination, CBSE class Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cancelled the 12 board exams for 2021 on June 1, 2021.
Following that, several boards decided to cancel their board exams. The Council for Higher Secondary Schools, or CISCE, suspended its class 12 board test shortly following PM Modi’s decision.
Several state boards consented to cancel the board exams in the interests of the students’ well-being.
This incident isn’t the first time a plea for fee refunds has been lodged. On July 31, 2021, the Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra government to hear a petition for a refund of board exam fees for the class 10, 12 exams in 2021.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation which sought cancellation of offline exams for Classes 10 and 12 to be conductedThe Supreme Court of India’s e-committee has been awarded the National Award for institutions engaged in empowering persons with disabilities, 2021.Â
The appeal said that due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the income of parents has either disappeared or declined to such a level that it has become difficult for them to arrange even two meals for their families.
It said the High Court’s order has resulted in denial of relief to 30 lakh students in the country and three lakh are in Delhi alone.
The plea, filed through lawyer Ashok Agarwal, said either CBSE be asked to waive off the exams fee or the Centre should pay the money from the PM-CARES Fund in the country.
“In the current year 2020-21, CBSE has demanded Examination fee from ₹1,500 to ₹1,800 from students of class X and ₹1,500 to ₹2,400 from class XII students depending upon number of subjects, practical, etc, the plea said.
In the last academic year, the Delhi government had paid examination fees to the CBSE of students of class X and XII, but in 2020-21, it has refused to do so citing financial crunch, it said.
The NGO sought direction to the CBSE to waive the fee or direct the Centre to pay to CBSE from the PM Care Fund or from any other available resources , it said.
