'Board Must Ensure Student's Career Isn't Damaged': Gujarat HC Condones Class 10 Student's Attendance Shortage, Allows Him To Write SSC Exams

The Gujarat High Court has allowed a Class 10 student suffering from medical ailments to write his SSC board exams, after the student approached the court to seek condonation for his attendance shortage following debarment by the CBSE. Denial of condonation of delay of shortage in the percentage of attendance, without valid reasons would result in loss of one academic year for any student and looking at the case of the petitioner, it can also be said that the decision of the respondent Nos.1 and 3 would also damage the petitioner by loss in his confidence and aggravating his Phobia and anxiety. The respondent authorities were expected to take into account all the relevant factors while considering the application of the petitioner for condonation of shortage of attendance.” “It is sad to note that the respondent No.2 school has also not been supportive in this case and coming to the rescue of the petitioner who is their student and who ought to have been given proper opportunity to appear in the examination to boost his confidence and save his academic career,” Justice Mayee further noted. The Court while allowing the petition noted, “Further, in the present case, by interim orders of this Court, the petitioner has been allowed to appear in the board examination and he has also sincerely attempted the Class 10th Board Examination despite coping with his illness, the petitioner ought to be given an opportunity to try and save his academic year, which is not detrimental to any interest of the respondents. Further, it would be unjust and unfair to put the petitioner at a disadvantageous situation at this stage.” “In view of the aforesaid observations, this Court finds that the petitioner is eligible for condonation of shortage of attendance and his case is covered within expressions “exceptional circumstances created on medical grounds” in Rule 14 and “any other reason of similar serious nature” in Rule 14 of the Examination Bye-Laws.”Accordingly, the Court stated that the shortage of attendance of the petitioner for the academic year 2023-24 was condoned as per Rule 14 of the Examination Bye-laws of CBSE.