Two students write to CJI urging cancellation of NEET-JEE exams

Filed by a third-year law student and a 12 class student, the plea says nothing is more important than human lives and the NTA Exams are being held in violation of their fundamental right under Article 21.

New Delhi:In a letter petition addressed to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, two students have pleaded him to intervene in the pleas filed to quash the National Testing Agency (NTA) notification for the JEE (Main) and NEET examinations.

Filed by a third-year law student and a 12 class student, the plea says nothing is more important than human lives.

Aditya Dubey and Aman Banka also say that the NTA Exams are being held in violation of their fundamental right under Article 21.

"COVID-19 is emerging as one of the most dangerous pandemics in human memory, hundreds of thousands have died and millions have been infected worldwide and even if they survive they will face long terms consequences of this disease," the plea read.

Citing the surging numbers of corona cases which now amounts to more than 3 million in the country, the students contend that their lives should be considered valuable.

"To protect the lives of the people, the courts, Parliament, most legislative assemblies, all academic institutions are closed. Most government and private offices are working at 50 per cent capacity to avoid the spread of infection. So many precautions are being taken to protect the lives of adult citizens of India, which is a welcome step," the letter said, adding, "However, to the utter shock of all students, their lives are being considered to be less valuable than the lives of these VIPs and the 17-18-year-old students are being forced to endanger their lives to appear in the entrance examination when the pandemic is at its peak."

Contending other grounds for postponing the exams, the students said that many students will have to travel long distances in public transport which will expose their health to risks, they also mentioned students from the underprivileged section who don't have access to proper masks and shields etc.

"These children are the future of our country and therefore to endanger the lives of a whole generation of future scientists, engineers and doctors by holding these entrance examinations during this COVID pandemic is wrong and arbitrary," argued the students.

The plea goes on to say that even the terrorists and criminals have been protected when their fundamental rights have been violated, and presently millions of students are relying on the temple of justice and chief priest of the temple - the CJI - to protect the lives and fundamental rights of the students by intervening in the matter.

Yesterday, six ministers from non-BJP ruled states of Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Jharkhand had also filed a petition in the apex court pleading to postpone the exams.