Orissa High Court disposed oftwo writ petitions following assurances from the state government and the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, that all precautionary measures will be taken as per the COVID-19 guidelines to allay the apprehensions of teachers engaged in evaluation of matriculation examination answer scripts.The High Court on Friday nevertheless asked the government and the Board to ensure proper accommodation and food for those teachers who will be travelling more than 10 km from their home to the evaluation centers.The Board has set up only 60 centers across the state for evaluation of answer scripts by around 2000 teachers that would resume from May 20.Apprehending that COVID-19 guidelines would be violated by congregation of teachers at the evaluation centers and during travelling to the evaluation centers every day, some teachers had approached the High Court for judicial intervention.At least two writ petitions were filed in this regard and the Bench of Justice Biswanath Rath adjudicated over them jointly.Observing that the apprehensions of the petitioners with regard to travelling, accommodation and congregation cannot be just lost sight of, the HC directed the state and the Board to ensure that accommodation, food and other related aspects are properly addressed for those teachers who would be travelling long distances for the evaluation work.
