The Supreme Court docket is hearing a plea filed by college students against the UGC’s July 6 order to conduct final year exams by September 30. A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash reddy and MR Shah started the hearing at 11am. The state of Maharashtra is arguing represented by senior advocate Arvind Datar.
Earlier on August 14, a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Subhash Reddy and MR Shah adjourned the matter for August 18. Arguing for petitioners on that day, senior advocate Shyam Divan had instructed the Court docket that college students represent a homogenous class and well being of final year college students is as vital as that of different year or batches. Showing for different petitioner, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi additionally argued that faculties throughout India can’t be anticipated to have identical amenities. Many faculties haven’t held lessons. He additionally opposed holding of final year examination saying how can UGC determine to carry obligatory exams when educating has not been held and Covid-19 pandemic is on the peak.
In the meantime, the Supreme Court docket on Monday rejected the plea filed by 11 college students to postpone the JEE Mains and NEET exams as a result of Covid- 19 state of affairs. A SC bench mentioned “life has to go on” regardless of the outbreak of the viral illness and the courtroom can not put the profession of scholars in jeopardy by interfering with the decision of the Nationwide Testing Company (NTA) to carry the examinations in September.
Test Newest Updates on proceedings right here:
UGC didn’t seek the advice of any medical specialists to grasp the realities earlier than issuing pointers: Advocate Normal of WB
Kishore Dutta, Advocate Normal of West Bengal tells Court docket that state is obligation certain by its constitutional obligation to guard well being of residents. This concern is just not addressed by UGC. UGC didn’t seek the advice of any well being or medical specialists to grasp the sensible floor realities earlier than issuing July 6 order.
South Bengal districts affected by Cyclone Amphan, most individuals had been evacuated: Advocate
South Bengal districts are affected by cyclone and most of the people together with college students have been evacuated. To carry bodily exams is just not potential. On holding on-line exams each state and college students lack digital infrastructure, the advocate mentioned.
Part 12 of UGC Act requires session with states and college: WB
West Bengal factors out that UGC order of July 6 is just not a statutory doc however an govt order. Part 12 of UGC Act required session with states and college. This was not carried out.
West Bengal begins argument
Odisha concludes arguments and West Bengal begins arguments. Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta is addressing Court docket for group of college academics of West Bengal
Odisha tells SC that it isn’t potential to carry exams resulting from Covid state of affairs
Odisha tells SC that it isn’t potential to carry exams resulting from Covid state of affairs. It said that examination is end result of 6 semesters and college students are being marked based mostly on efficiency of 5 semesters.
Now Covid instances have peaked in Odisha. Greater than 2 lakh college students are in final year. Most college students have returned again dwelling. A number of college students are in rural areas the place connectivity and availability of laptops and laptop is a problem and therefore on-line exams can’t be performed.
Court docket is hearing the arguments made by state of Odisha
Maharashtra concludes argument. Now Court docket is hearing the state of Odisha.
UGC didn’t seek the advice of states earlier than releasing pointers: Maharashtra tells SC
Maharashtra tells SC that UGC didn’t seek the advice of states affected by Covid earlier than popping out with its July 6 pointers. It additional identified that on April 29 the UGC Tips mentioned universities ‘might’ conduct pointers. This discretion is just not there now as Universities should compulsorily conduct exams by September 30.
Most college students enrolled in Maharashtra are from completely different states: Advocate
Maharashtra at present has 1.four lakh lively Covid instances. Senior advocate Arvind Datar representing the Maharashtra state mentioned,”There are 13 universities in Maharashtra with 11 lakh college students. Most college students learning in Maharashtra come from outdoors the state. At current most faculties are Covid testing centres. Hostels have been transformed into quarantine amenities. There is no such thing as a manner universities can conduct exams by September 30 in these circumstances.”
‘No dispute that Maharashtra is struggling the worst situations’: SC
Court docket agrees that there isn’t any dispute that Maharashtra is struggling the worst resulting from Covid
UGC can not insist on holdiing exams, it’s on college’s discretion: Advocate
Advocate Datar responds that a rare state of affairs of Covid is prevailing. Additionally UGC can not insist on holding exams by September 30 as conduct of examination, when to carry it relies upon on College’s discretion, Datar mentioned.
College can’t dilute requirements mounted by UGC on holding exams: SC
Court docket tells Datar, “If there’s a route by UGC fixing the usual of holding examination, can the College dilute these requirements? If that’s permitted, each College could have a distinct system of passing college students. You can not dilute the requirements.”
All universities throughout India don’t observe semester system: SC
Court docket tells Datar that each one universities throughout India don’t observe semester system. The courtroom desires Datar to take a holistic view of nation. Datar replies that his directions are that semester system is adopted throughout the nation. Solicitor Normal Tushar Mehta showing for UGC denies this assertion.
5 semester are over, inside evaluation for sixth semester is completed: Advocate Datar
Arvind Datar tells courtroom that welfare of scholars should be the query that must be seen. He factors out that the tutorial evaluation adopted in Maharashtra assesses college students from Day 1. He claims that in Universities in Maharashtra observe semester system. At current 5 semesters are over and inside evaluation for sixth semester is completed.
