HC directs Maharashtra to ensure power supply at exam centres

Expressing concern over load shedding, the Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra state government today, to ensure uninterrupted power supply to all exam centres during HSC and SSC examinations in October 2014.
A bench of Justice Abhay Oka also asked the state to come out with an action plan within a fortnight about how it proposed to tackle the load shedding situation at exam centres during the March-April examinations in 2015.
The bench was hearing a contempt petition filed by activist Vishnu Gawli which alleged that there was load shedding at exam centres during examinations.
Later, the state assured today that it would ensure that all exam centres get uninterrupted power supply during 2015 examinations, though it had claimed earlier that there is a shortage of generators and that such a facility was also "harmful" for students.

However, the court observed that the state has been changing its stand frequently and that it should take a firm stand about providing uninterrupted power supply during examinations.
Earlier, the court had also pulled up the state for its apathy towards students suffering due to load shedding in schools during examinations.

"Why there was no load shedding during festivals? Why only load shedding at examination centres," it had asked.
The petition alleged that the state of Maharashtra had not implemented the court previous orders in 2008 to provide uninterrupted power supply to schools which conduct HSC and SSC examinations.
In July, the Bombay High Court had asked the state to provide generators, inverters and solar systems on a war footing to schools, since students have to write their examinations in darkness, due to load shedding.