While reserving verdict for June 15 on pleas seeking re-conduct of the test on the ground of large scale irregularities, a vacation bench of justices R K Agrawal and Amitava Roy said, “You (CBSE) have been outwitted and outmaneuvered” by those using electronic gadgets.
“Even if a single person is the beneficiary of his illegal labour, the sanctity of the examination cannot be sustained,” it said when CBSE opposed the plea of re-conduct.
Solicitor General (SG) Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the CBSE, opposed the contention seeking cancellation of the test, saying, “6.3 lakh students cannot be made to take the exam afresh when only 44 students have been found involved in taking benefits through unfair means”.
At the outset, the counsel for students referred to the fresh status report of Haryana Police and sought cancellation of the examination on the ground that 44 persons’ involvement have been confirmed and the numbers are bound to rise.
“The sanctity of the examination is gone and re-examination is the only option to restore confidence,” he said, adding that 358 mobile phones have been used by the persons running the racket for the AIPMT.
Opposing the plea, the SG said that the question is whether these 44 instances vitiate the entire examination process in which 6.3 lakh students took part.
He termed the demand a “far cry” and said that the CBSE be allowed to declare the results sans 29 students who, as per it, have been found to be involved in unfair practices during the test.
He further said that the examination process takes seven months and it has wrongly been suggested that CBSE can re-conduct the test in a month’s time.
A senior police officer, who is part of the probe team, told the bench that so far, police has found 44 beneficiaries and the list is not “conclusive” and the number is bound to rise.
PTI