Have cancelled Class 12 board exam, will declare results by July 31: AP tells SC

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh government on Friday told the Supreme Court that it has cancelled Class 12 examination which was to be conducted by the state board and would declare results of internal assessment by July 31.

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari was informed by senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for Andhra Pradesh, that he had discussed the matter with the chief minister on Thursday and the state government has decided to cancel the exam.

The apex court had on Thursday told Andhra Pradesh government that it was not convinced of the precautionary measures suggested by the state for holding Class 12 board exams amid the pandemic and had said unless satisfied that there will be no fatality due to COVID-19, it will not allow them.

He (Dave) informed the court that after re-examining the situation, the state government has now been well-advised to cancel the XII standard examination, to be conducted by the concerned state board. We place that statement on record, the bench said in its order.

In light of this commitment made across the Bar and as we are informed that suitable notification is being issued shortly, nothing more is required to be done in the present proceedings, the bench said.

The top court was hearing a plea seeking directions to state governments not to hold board exams in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the matter and the way it has progressed, although we had made full preparations for the examination . looking at the sentiments expressed by the court, I had a discussion with the chief minister yesterday and I advised them. They have also decided to cancel the exam, Dave told the bench during the hearing conducted through video-conferencing on Friday.

Dave said a high-powered committee, which will be constituted, would devise the assessment scheme within 10 days.

We will follow the timeline of July 31 and declare the results, he said, adding that if the examination was conducted then the declaration of results would have gone in August.

Dave said if the entire country is going in one direction, then state of Andhra Pradesh would also go the same way.

We appreciate the practical and very pragmatic stand taken by the state. We wish you could have appeared before us earlier, the bench said, adding that probably what was discussed yesterday was avoidable.