Consult before scheduling exams: EC to 5 school boards

The Election Commission has noted that the elections have to be held before the term of the assemblies end.

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Photo for representational purpose.

Keeping in view the likelihood of the annual school exams in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur clashing with the upcoming Assembly elections in these five states, the Election Commission of India has directed the education boards to consult them before scheduling the examinations.

The Commission is aware that the annual examination at various levels of educational institutions in the states are generally due in the first half of the next year. “The Commission wants that there is no clash between the programme of the elections…and the examination schedule that may be framed by various state education boards,” the Commission told the states.

The poll body pointed out that it is a Constitutional mandate to hold the elections well before the expiry of the term of the Legislative Assembly and it is in the “advance stages” of considering a schedule for holding the elections.

While, the term of the Legislative Assemblies of Goa, Manipur and Punjab are coming to an end on March 18, that of Uttarakhand will expire on March 26. The term of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly will expire on May 27.

The EC is likely to announce the poll schedule for these states sometime later this month or early January.

— With inputs from PTI