Board exams conducted smoothly amid Bharat Bandh violence

The Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday confirmed that the class 10 and class 12 exams were conducted smoothly as per schedule across the country amid the ongoing nationwide shutdown called by several Dalit organisations to protest against the alleged dilution of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act by the Supreme Court.

Violence and arson were witnessed on Monday in various states including Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. At least nine people were killed and many injured in the violence.

Both rail and road traffic was disrupted as protesters blocked highways and railway lines and set fire to public property.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad confirmed that the government filed a comprehensive review petition in the top court which would be presented before the top court by senior lawyers. He said that the government didn't agree with the top court's ruling and that there was no intention of changing provision for the reservation for minorities.The top court had, on March 20, introduced the provision of anticipatory bail in the act while directing that there would be no automatic arrest on any complaint filed under the law. 

(With inputs from ANI)