Bombay HC questions Maha govt over cancellation of Class 10 exam

The Bombay High Court on Thursday came down heavily on the Maharashtra government over the cancellation of the Class X examination. Against the backdrop of Corona, the state government decided to cancel the Class X examination. The decision was challenged by Pune-based Professor Dhananjay Kulkarni in the High Court.

A division bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and S P Tavade sought a reply as to why the decision to cancel the state board exam should not be set aside. The formula for evaluation is not drawn. A decision will be taken in two weeks, said Government pleader P B Kakade told the court.

You are making a mockery of the education system. Are you thinking of promoting the students without exams? Isn't the government serious about the future of students? Justice Kathwalla said.

This is the last year of schooling. Tenth standard is an important year and hence the exam is also important," the court said. The government is ruining the careers of students in the name of pandemic. This is not acceptable. "You are destroying the education system," the court said.

You say that covid cases are declining in Mumbai and in the state. So why are you canceling the 10th exam? Why not cancel the 12th standard exam? On what basis was this discrimination made?
It seems that the policy makers are acting arbitrarily. The court also expressed concern that the future students of our country, the state, could not be promoted in such a manner for years.

In online, multiple choice exams, students who score 40 per cent also manage to get 90 per cent and hence it was not the right way to assess them, the court said. Without any thought, the state government decided to cancel the exam. The bench directed the state government to file an affidavit explaining why the court should not set aside the decision to cancel the SSC exam, and posted the matter for further hearing next week.