The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to direct the CBSE and the CISCE to provide the hybrid option, instead of only the offline mode, to students appearing for the Class X and XII board exams, saying it would not be appropriate to disturb the process at the last minute.

“Don’t mess up with the education system. Let the authorities continue to do their job,” the bench told Sanjay Hegde, the lawyer appearing for the petitioner students.

The court noted that the first term of the CBSE board exams had started on November 16, while the first semester of the CISCE board was to begin on November 22.

A bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and C.T. Ravikumar was informed by solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, representing the CBSE, that all precautions had been taken for conducting the board exams offline and the number of exam centres had been increased from 6,500 to 15,000.

The bench said it “hopes and trusts” that the authorities would take all precautions to ensure that no one is exposed to anything untoward during the exams.

The top court was hearing a plea by six students seeking directions to the CBSE and the CISCE to issue a revised circular for conducting the Class X and XII board exams in the hybrid mode, instead of offline only, amid the pandemic.

Senior advocate Hegde told the bench that the students were only requesting that the exams offer both offline and online options. The bench told Hegde that it was too late now and the exams cannot be rescheduled at this stage.

The senior advocate told the top court that there was a state of uncertainty and the students should be given the hybrid option.

The court, however, said a “chaotic situation” would arise as nearly 34 lakh students were appearing for the exams across the country.

Hegde pointed out that Covid-19 was an evolving situation and several aspects, including the possibility of conducting online exams, had been deliberated upon earlier.

“This we could have tested if you had come early. This last-minute business should be discouraged,” the bench said.

Hegde said that according to experts, there was a possibility of the coronavirus spreading because of gatherings.

Mehta, the solicitor-general, contended: “The (CBSE) exams have already started on November 16.”

He added that the authorities have taken care of the concerns over the possibility of thespread of the virus.

“Let us be very practical about it. The examinations have already started. How can it be made online now?” the bench asked Hegde.

The petition had said: “Consent assumes significance as exams directly relate to the mental health of the petitioners requiring a conducive and voluntary atmosphere to ensure a fair assessment. It is common knowledge that the third wave of Covid pandemic is predicted.”