NEET, JEE 2020: Supreme Court declines to hear review petition on exam postponement

Supreme Court has declined to hear review petition challenging decision to conduct National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). review plea was filed by West Bengal Law Minister Moloy Ghatak, Jharkhand Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon, Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma, Chhattisgarh Civil Supplies Minister Amarjeet Bhagat, Punjab Labour Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, and Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant.

According to petition, court order failed to secure safety, security, and right to life of students appearing for JEE and NEET exams. Moreover, it contended that SC had igred logistical difficulties in conducting exams on scheduled dates. While JEE Main exam has commenced on September 1, NEET examination will take place on September 13. 

Earlier, a petition was filed in Supreme Court seeking postponement of September NEET and JEE Main exams and urged to conduct it at a later date when COVID pandemic issues subside in country. Supreme Court dismissed plea as Justice Arun Kumar Mishra observed that students cant waste an entire year and court cant jeopardise ir career.

Read: SC To Hear Review Petition On Order Rejecting NEET-JEE Postponement On September 4

Read: NEET, JEE Main 2020: OYO Rolls Out Discounts For Students Appearing For Exams

Arguments for and against postponement

JEE Main is scheduled to be held between September 1 and 6 and JEE (Advanced) on September 27. National Testing ncy decided to hold NEET on September 13. However, country is still witnessing highest daily coronavirus cases across world and floods in several states have exacerbated problems faced by students and ir parents to safely arrive at exam centres.

major argument against postponement of NEET and JEE examinations is obvious disruption in academic calendar. Academicians have argued that NEET and JEE are conducted for admissions in medical and engineering colleges, which have several laboratory components and are required to be conducted in a timely manner. y fear that lab work will be compromised if exams get postponed.

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