New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking the postponement of Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET). The JEE examination was scheduled to held between September 1 and September 6 while the NEET was scheduled was slated for September 13.
"The postponement of the NEET/JEE will put the 'career of students in peril'," said the apex court while hearing a petition filed by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, on behalf of 11 students from 11 states seeking the postponement of NEET and JEE. The plea was heard by SC bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra.
Starting the hearing, Justice Arun Mishra said, "There are two petitions. One seeking conduct of the exams and another seeking postponement."
"Life should move on even in COVID-19 times. Can we just stop exams? We should move on", added Justice Mishra.
"If exams are not held, won't it be a loss to the country? Students will lose the academic year'. Are you not demanding that Courts should re-open? Why can't exams be held with precautions?," further asked Justice Mishra.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for NTA, said that exams should be conducted, and adequate precautions will be taken.
Advocate Alakh submitted that there is a chance of vaccine coming soon for COVID-19. “Even the Prime Minister said about it in his August 15 speech. Not seeking an indefinite postponement of the exam, but a postponement for some time,” Alakh clarified.
Following this, the bench said it has taken into record the submission of Solicitor General that exams will be held with adequate precautions while dismissing the petition seeking postponement of NEET and JEE examinations.
“There is no ground to interfere with policy decision. Dismisses the plea,” said the bench.
"Lakhs of young students are likely to appear in the aforesaid JEE (Main) April-2020 and NEET UG-2020 Exams in the months of September 2020. Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases are increasing in India at an alarming rate. The deadly pandemic Covid-19 has already affected about 20 Lakh people in India and the situation is worsening by every passing day. Conducting the aforesaid examination across India at such a perilous time, is nothing else but putting the lives of lakhs of young students (including petitioners herein) at utmost risk and danger of disease and death", said the plea.
Also Read:
JEE, NEET Exams: Students File Plea In SC For Postponement Of Entrances