Bombay HC allows a 19-year-old to retake Class 12 exam due to anxiety, depression, and gaming disorder. Justices AS Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil highlight fairness and education rights in their decision.
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MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has granted permission to a 19-year-old boy to retake his Class 12 improvement examination. The student, who missed the exam last year due to severe anxiety, depression, and Internet Gaming Disorder, will now have another chance to improve his scores.
The division bench, comprising Justices AS Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil, underscored the importance of fairness and the right to education in their decision.
They stated-
“In the pursuit of justice, it is appropriate to provide the boy with an opportunity to participate in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) improvement exam.”
Hailing from an eastern suburb of Mumbai, the boy had consistently excelled in his academic performance until Class 11, securing marks in the range of 85 to 93 percent. However, during the crucial Class 12 exams held in March 2023, his academic performance took a drastic hit due to his deteriorating mental health.
According to his lawyer, Anil D’Souza-
“He faced challenges with depression and anxiety during the March 2023 Class 12 exams, achieving a score of only 319 out of 600.”
This significant drop in his performance was attributed to his mental health struggles.
The petition revealed that the student sought medical treatment for his mental health issues from July to December 2023. His plea highlighted that he was diagnosed with Internet Gaming Disorder at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Hospital, further compounding his inability to focus on his studies and participate in the re-examination held in July of the same year.
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The plea detailed his journey through the challenges posed by his mental health conditions. It emphasized that his battle with depression and anxiety, coupled with the Internet Gaming Disorder diagnosis, had severely impacted his academic performance. The diagnosis and subsequent treatment left him unable to cope with the pressures of the examination schedule.
Despite his struggles, the student remained determined to overcome these challenges and sought judicial intervention to secure a fair chance at improving his academic record. The court, acknowledging the gravity of his situation, ruled in his favor, thereby setting a precedent for the consideration of mental health in academic evaluations.
The boy’s case underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health issues among students. It brings to light the need for educational institutions and examination boards to develop compassionate and accommodating policies for students facing similar challenges.
This ruling by the Bombay High Court serves as a reminder of the judiciary’s role in upholding the rights of individuals, particularly in the realm of education. It emphasizes the necessity of a supportive and understanding approach towards students dealing with mental health issues, ensuring they are not deprived of opportunities due to circumstances beyond their control.
Video game addiction, also known as internet gaming disorder, is a serious condition characterized by an extreme loss of control over gaming behaviors. This addiction can have detrimental effects on various aspects of life, including self-care, relationships, academic performance, and professional responsibilities.
Recently, a significant case involving internet gaming disorder was brought before the High Court. A student, who had been battling this addiction, sought the court’s intervention after his college denied his request to take the March 2024 improvement examination. The student argued that his addiction had severely impacted his ability to perform academically, and he was undergoing treatment for this condition.
In his plea, the student highlighted that another improvement examination was scheduled for July 16, 2024. He requested the court to allow him to take this exam as he was unable to attend the previous one due to his medical condition.
Upon reviewing the boy’s medical reports, the bench noted-
“There is no doubt about the authenticity of those documents.”
This statement affirmed the validity of the student’s medical condition and the ongoing treatment for internet gaming disorder.
The bench further stated-
“In light of the unique circumstances of the case, we believe the petitioner deserves an opportunity to improve his marks, considering he was unable to do so earlier due to medical reasons.”
This recognition underscored the court’s understanding of the student’s unique circumstances and the impact of his medical condition on his academic performance.
“To ensure justice, provided the petitioner applies for permission to take the July 2024 examination with the College and pays the required late fees, he will be allowed to participate in the examination scheduled to begin on July 16, 2024.”
-the court added.
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This directive provided a clear path for the student to take the improvement examination, ensuring that his right to education and fair opportunity was upheld.
