Aishwarya Rathore –
Published on: August 2, 2021, at 12:55 PM
A plea has been filed before the Kerala High Court today by B.Sc Nursing students contesting the decision of Kerala University of Health Sciences to conduct offline exams amid the pandemic.
Two students enrolled in two separate colleges affiliated with the aforementioned University have filed this petition, claiming to be profoundly aggrieved by the respondents’ alleged gross illegality in conducting offline exams despite the State’s current situation.
They submitted that upon notification of the exams, several students returned to their respective hostels, and many of them later tested positive for Covid-19. In some of the colleges under the University, students showing symptoms were allegedly not even permitted to undergo a medical test.
It has also been brought to the Court’s attention that the majority of students taking the examinations have not yet received the required two doses of vaccination.
On the 8th of May 2021, the State imposed a second lockdown to halt the spread of the pandemic’s second wave.
Following that, the State decided to reopen Health Educational Institutions from July 1st. Accordingly, the University notified the timetable for 1st and 2nd year BSc nursing students.
To defend their contention, the petitioners referenced the recently issued UGC guidelines for conducting examinations in light of the pandemic.
They also stated that they had filed multiple representations outlining their concerns to the University’s Vice-Chancellor, to which no response had been received as of yet.
It has also been argued that proceeding with the examinations would be an infringement of their fundamental rights as provided under Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. In such circumstances, the Court has been asked to put aside the illegality and unfairness that has been displayed, therefore aiding the petitioners.
The examinations are scheduled to begin on August 4th. As a result, the petitioners have asked for the examinations to be cancelled.
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