The Telangana High Court, on Tuesday permitted the state government to hold SSC exams after the first week of June.

A division bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy directed the government to review the Covid-19 situation on June 3 to see if exams can be held from June 8. If the situation deteriorates, the examinations should be put on hold.



The bench noted that more than five lakh students will be appearing for the examinations. “Holding exams for such a huge number is not a joke and it is a gigantic step. The state should take continuous steps to protect its children,” the bench said.

The court directed the education department to ensure that there are more exam centres, which should be located in schools or colleges having large campuses. Each centre should have a sufficient number of thermal screening kits to screen students upon entry, and there should be adequate medical staff to look after the medical needs of the students.

It said social distancing must be maintained inside and outside the centres. After every exam, the centre should be disinfected. A two-day gap must be maintained between each examination.

It directed the department to provide helpline numbers to parents and students which can be used in an emergency or in case of confusion. It asked the department to ensure that students in red zones or containment zones are safely taken to the centres.

The court vacated the stay orders on the SSC exam issued on March 20 as cases of Coronavirus began spreading. The court had stayed the exams on a PIL filed by one Bala Krishna Mandapati. Last week, with the situation stabilising, the government filed a vacate stay petition seeking permission to hold the exams.