'If There Is One Fatality, We'll Make State Responsible' : Supreme Court Tells Andhra Pradesh Govt On Holding Class 12 Exams.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Andhra Pradesh Government to inform it on June 24 its final decision on holding physical exams for Class 12 of the state board.

Advocate Mahfooz Nazki, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh Government, informed a vacation bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari that the state wants to go ahead with the physical exams for class 12.

The state counsel further said that the final decision on it has been deferred till July 1.

"We feel we will be able to conduct exams. We have deferred decision to July 1st week", Nazki submitted.

"What if you are unable to conduct exams in July? Why not take that decision now like other States?", the bench asked.

Observing that the students should not be put to uncertainty, the bench insisted that the final decision of the state should be conveyed to it within 2 days.

"How many students are expected to take the exams?", the bench asked the counsel. About 5 lakhs, the state counsel replied.

The bench asked if the state government was confident of conducting exams for 5 lakh students, considering the fact that CBSE, ICSE and nearly 20 state boards have cancelled exams on account of the second wave of the COVID pandemic.

The state counsel replied in the affirmative adding that necessary safety protocols will be put in place. It will be ensured that there will not be more than 15 students in a hall, he added.

"'If there is one fatality, we will make the state responsible", the bench told the lawyer of Andhra Pradesh Government.

The matter will be considered against on June 24. The bench was hearing a PIL filed by Advocate Anubha Sahai Srivasatava seeking cancellation of state board exams.

The bench also said that it will pass orders on the plea against decision of the Kerala Government to conduct exams for Class XI. The Kerala Government have filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that it has decided to hold the Class XI exams.