The Supreme Court on Monday rejected petitions seeking the postponement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) scheduled to be held amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bench of Justices Arun Mishra, BR Gavai, and Krishna Murari was hearing petitions by as many as 11 aspirants from across various states.

The plea also sought a direction for the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct the exams only when normalcy returns after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Career of students cannot be put in peril. We find no merit in the petition. The petition is dismissed", the bench which also comprised justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murari said.

"You (lawyers) have demanded opening of physical courts. But you want exams to be postponed. Postponment of exams is a loss for country," the bench said.

Petitioner's lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava said that vaccine for Covid is on its way and he is not seeking an indefinite postponment of the exams. But the bench found no merit in the case.

As per the public notices notified by the NTA, JEE (Main) 2020 exam is scheduled to be held from September 1-6, while the NEET-UG 2020 exam is scheduled for September 13.