38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, March 29, 2024
Judiciary

SC Allows COVID-19 Infected CLAT Aspirant to Take Exam at an Isolation Centre

By Arundhuti Deshmukh      30 September, 2020 05:58 PM      0 Comments
SC Allows COVID-19 Infected CLAT Aspirant to Take Exam at an Isolation Centre

Hours before the scheduled start of Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)-2020 the Supreme Court on Monday allowed a COVID-19 positive aspirant to take the entrance test in a separate isolation room. The plea was filed by a COVID positive CLAT Aspirant, Mr. Deepansh Tripathi. 

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said, “In the facts of the present case, we are of the view that the student Deepansh Tripathi should be permitted to take his CLAT examination on September 28, 2020, in a separate isolation room to be provided by his Centre Superintendent”.  

The bench also comprising Justices R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah said that the student shall ensure that a downloaded copy of this order should be presented before his Centre Superintendent as early as possible by any other non-symptomatic person. They made it clear that only the aspirant who had approached the Court vide the said urgent application shall be permitted to avail the facility and take the exam. 

On such order being produced, the Centre Superintendent shall provide a separate room for the applicant to appear in the examination. The applicant shall enter into the center after other candidates take entry and shall first leave the examination center, it said.

There is very little time. We'll direct that you be allowed to take the exam," said Justice Bhushan while adding that the applicants must strive to serve the Consortium before 12 pm on Monday so that sufficient arrangements could be made. 

Advocate Garima Parshad and Sumit Chandra appeared for the applicants. Chandra told the Court that there were not just 1-2 Covid19 infected aspirants who were aspiring to take the CLAT Exam but a couple of others and urged the Court to pass a general order for their benefit as well. 

However, the Court was not inclined to pass a general order, stating that there was a paucity of time and the exam had to be conducted. 

You worry about yourself, why to worry about others?" said Justice Shah. 

The Applicant sought clarification on the judgment [Rakesh Kumar Agarwalla and Anr. v. National Law School of India University, Bengaluru & Ors.] passed by the Supreme Court on 21 September 2020 and order of the CLAT Consortium in regard to denial to appear in CLAT exams to aspirants suffering from Covid-19 by not providing isolation rooms at the exam centers for COVID-19 positive aspirants, as promised earlier. (Admit cards have been issued with a provision that isolation rooms/centers will be provided to COVID positive students.)

As per the latest order of the CLAT Consortium, the candidates who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are under medical surveillance will not be permitted to take the CLAT 2020 examination scheduled to be held on 28 September 2020.

The student in his application said, "The sudden change in the stand of the Consortium of National Law Universities has deprived the applicant of his fundamental right under Article 14 of the Constitution of India to be treated as an equal and be given an opportunity to appear in the examination on September 28, 2020, which otherwise he was well entitled to like any other student. 

As reported, The applicant has relied on the statement by the Vice-Chancellor of NLSIU, Bangalore, Mr. Sudhir Krishnaswamy on July 9, 2020, where he assured that:

the health and safety protocols that will be followed at the test centers will be of 'highest standard'. He has also informed that the Consortium has classified all centers into 'general testing rooms' and isolation rooms'."

 The Petition has been filed by Advocate Garima Prashad and Advocate Sumit Chander and Advocate Vinay Kumar. 



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

arvind-kejriwals-plea-for-interim-release-rejected-by-delhi-high-court
Trending Judiciary
Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release rejected by Delhi High Court [Read Order]

Delhi High Court rejects Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release in money laundering case related to liquor policy scam, pending ED's response.

28 March, 2024 10:50 AM
youtuber-strings-plea-against-youtube-accounts-suspension-andhra-pradesh-hc-issues-notice-to-centre-google
Trending Top Stories
BREAKING: Youtuber String’s plea against Youtube accounts suspension: Andhra Pradesh HC issues notice to Centre, Google

Andhra Pradesh High Court issues notice to the Centre and Google LLC on Youtube journalist String’s plea against suspension of its accounts by Google (which owns Youtube).

28 March, 2024 11:26 AM

TOP STORIES

delhi-liquor-scam-court-remands-arvind-kejriwal-to-ed-custody-till-march-28-read-remand-application
Trending Judiciary
Delhi liquor scam: Court remands Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28 [Read Order]

Delhi liquor scam: Arvind Kejriwal remanded to ED custody till March 28. Court grants agency permission for interrogation in liquor policy case.

23 March, 2024 11:53 AM
sc-dismisses-centres-plea-for-review-of-judgment-directing-ed-to-furnish-written-grounds-of-arrest-to-pmla-accused
Trending Judiciary
SC dismisses Centre’s plea for review of judgment directing ED to furnish written grounds of arrest to PMLA accused [Read Order]

Supreme Court dismisses Centre's plea, upholds judgment mandating Enforcement Directorate to provide written grounds of arrest in PMLA cases.

23 March, 2024 03:14 PM
kerala-hc-to-hear-lesbian-couples-plea-against-forced-conversion-therapy-on-april-9
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC to hear lesbian couple’s plea against forced conversion therapy on April 9

Kerala HC will hear a lesbian couple’s plea highlighting that one of them was subjected to forced conversion therapy.

23 March, 2024 03:30 PM
how-can-people-be-compelled-to-vote-madras-hc-asks
Trending Judiciary
“How can people be compelled to vote? Madras HC asks

“How can people be compelled to vote?”, the Madras HC queried in a plea asking employers in Tamil Nadu to demand proof from employees of having voted on polling day.

23 March, 2024 05:04 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email