On Tuesday, the Apex Court dismissed a petition seeking a direction to the CBSE and the Delhi Govt to waive examination fees for students of class 10 & 12 in the current academic year in view of the ongoing pandemic & consequent financial problems being faced by parents.
A Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan dismissed the plea saying it is a Govt’s decision & the Court can’t interfere in it.
The Bench said that “How can this court direct it? It’s for the government to decide. Dismiss”.
Lawyer Ashok Aggarwal appearing for the petitioner argued that a representation has been before the Delhi Govt & it was rejected saying it can’t give so much money.
Agarwal added that “CBSE has not responded. 10 per cent of students are in government schools, at least they can revert back to the old fee. They have hiked the exam fee”.
An NGO Social Jurist had moved the Apex Court and had filed an appeal before the top court against the Sept 28 order of the High Court of Delhi asking the Delhi Govt & the CBSE to treat the PIL as a representation & take a decision “in accordance with law, rules, regulations & government policy applicable to the facts of the case” within 3 weeks.
“Due to lockdown & pandemic, the income of parents has either disappeared or has gone down to such a level that it has become difficult for them to arrange even two times meal for their families. The high court’s order has resulted into denial of relief to 30 lakh students in the country & three lakh are in Delhi alone,” the NGO said in its appeal to the Supreme Court.
The plea stated that “Till 2018-19 the CBSE Examination fee of students of class 10 & 12 was very nominal but in the year 2019-20 respondent CBSE increased Examination fee in manifold. In the current year 2020-21, CBSE demanded Examination fee from Rs 1500 to Rs.1800 from students of class X & Rs.1500 to Rs.2400 from class XII students depending upon the number of subjects, practical, etc”.
In the last academic year, the Delhi Govt had paid examination fees to the CBSE of students of class 10 & 12, but in 2020-21, it has refused to pay citing financial crunch, it added.
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