Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea seeking direction to the CBSE and the Delhi government to waive exam fees for students of classes 10 and 12 in the current academic year.

The petition was filed by Social Jurist, an NGO seeking a waiver of the examination fees in view of financial problems being faced by a few parents during the ongoing pandemic.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan dismissed the plea saying it is a government’s decision and the court can’t interfere in it.

The high court had asked the Delhi government and the CBSE to treat the PIL as a representation and take a decision “in accordance with law, rules, regulations and government policy applicable to the facts of the case” within three weeks.

The appeal said that due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown, the income of parents has either disappeared or declined to such a level that it has become difficult for them to arrange even two meal for their families.

It is said that the high court’s order has resulted in denial of relief to 30 lakh students in the country and three lakh are in Delhi alone.

The plea, filed through lawyer Ashok Agarwal, said either CBSE be asked to waive off exam fees or the Centre should pay the money from the PM Cares Fund in the country.

In the last academic year, the Delhi government had paid examination fees to the CBSE of students of class 10 and 12, but in 2020-21, it has refused to do so citing financial crunch.