DEVIKA AJAY Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Six students studying in Plus One class have approached this Court with these writ petitions impugning notification dated 28.5.2021 issued by General Education Department of the State by which the First Year Higher Secondary Examination has been scheduled to be held from 6.9.2021 to 16.9.2021. The petitioners have sought for quashing the notification and cancel the Plus One final examination for the academic year 2020-2021. In one of the writ petitions, directions have been sought to the Board of Higher Secondary Examinations to frame a guideline for conducting Plus One Final Year examinations internally in each school.

(2.) In view of the commonality of the issues raised, both these writ petitions are taken up and disposed of together with the consent of the contesting parties. For the sake of ease and clarity, the pleadings and Exhibits in W.P.(C) No.15971/2021 shall be mainly referred to in this judgment.

(3.) The petitioner is stated to be a student studying in the Umbichy Hajee Higher Secondary School at Chaliyam in Class XI, Commerce batch. It is contended that due to COVID - 19 pandemic, tutoring for Classes XI and XII are conducted online. Due to poor electronic connectivity, network range issues and the non-availability of electronic devices, the studies of the petitioner has been adversely affected. It is contended that there are other students in the school who suffer the same handicaps.