NEET, JEE To Be Held In September After SC Dismisses Postponement Plea While Students Oppose
The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking the postponement of JEE Main and NEET 2020 entrance examinations scheduled for September. The petition was filed by 11 students which said that conducting the exams despite the coronavirus situation in India to be utterly arbitrary whimsical and violative of the fundamental right to life of lakhs of affected students. The Bench however found no merit in the plea and dismissed it.
The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking the postponement of JEE Main and NEET 2020 entrance examinations scheduled for September.
The Supreme Court Bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra and comprising Justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murari, said the careers could not be put in jeopardy and students may lose an academic year.
Pointing out that "life has to go on" despite COVID-19, the SC Bench said, ¡° "Life cannot be stopped. We have to move ahead with all safeguards and all... Are students ready to waste one whole year? Education should be opened up. Covid may continue for a year more. Are you going to wait another year? Do you know what the loss to the country and peril to the students is?"
File Photo
Petitioner¡¯s lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava said that a COVID vaccine is ¡°on its way¡± and the plea does not seek indefinite postponement. The Bench, however, found no merit in the plea and dismissed it.
The petition was filed by 11 students which said that conducting JEE Main 2020, JEE Advanced 2020 and NEET 2020 despite the coronavirus situation in India to be "utterly arbitrary, whimsical and violative of the fundamental right to life of lakhs of affected students".
It also cited the cancellation of remaining Institution of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), CBSE and ISC exams.
JEE Main 2020, the entrance exam for admission into engineering institutes, is to be held online from 1 to 6 September while NEET 2020, held for admission to undergraduate medical courses, is scheduled to be held offline on 13 September.
Many students have expressed displeasure over the dismissal of the plea terming it "unfortunate". Many said the decision is ironic considering the Supreme Court itself is functioning through virtual hearings while it is asking millions of students to physically appear for examinations.
I have raised various grounds,
¡ª Alakh Alok Srivastava (@advocate_alakh) August 17, 2020
-like ¡°Right to Health/ Life¡± of students,
-tender age (17-18 years) of students,
-Lesser Number of COVID cases on last two occasions when NEET JEE were postponed & COVID cases today,
-Flood Situation,
-Example of Karnataka CET, UP B.Ed etc https://t.co/oEYfipeT68
What is ironic is
¡ª Sandeep Saurav (@Sandeep_Saurav_) August 17, 2020
Due to the epidemic the Supreme Court itself is conducting virtual hearings,
But is asking millions of students to be pushed into the examination crowd!#SCpostponeJEE_NEET
Postpone JEE & NEET. NO one holds the right to jeopardize our children's health & safety. @narendramodi @DrRPNishank @PMOIndia @DG_NTA @HRDMinistry #PostponeJEE_NEETinSept #SCpostponeJEE_NEET #SupremeCourtOfIndia #NEET2020 #JEEMain #JEE_NEET @IYCJharkhand @IYC @INCJharkhand pic.twitter.com/m2nPKii3gv
¡ª FURKAN ANSARI (@F_Ansari_Godda) August 17, 2020
I APPEAL TO ALL THE STATE GOVT TO COME FWD AND SUPPORT NEET JEE AND FINAL YEAR STUDENTS
¡ª Adv Anubha Shrivastava Sahai (@anubha1812) August 17, 2020
98% ARE NOT IN FAVOUR OF EXAMS DUE COVID
These are the reasons WHY NEET JEE SHOULD POSTPONE #SCpostponeJEE_NEET pic.twitter.com/K2sp6H0KPr
¡ª MAYUR CHOUHAN (@themayurchouhan) August 17, 2020
