Students should prepare for final year university exams: UGC to SC – education

Students should proceed with their preparation for the final year university examinations scheduled to be held by the top of September 30 and should not harbour any false impression that the Supreme Courtroom will keep the exams, the University Grants Fee (UGC) instructed the highest courtroom on Friday.

The UGC was defending its July 6 directive asking universities throughout the nation to maintain final year/ terminal semester examinations by the top of September.

“My request is that no one should stay beneath the impression the final exams shall be stayed as a result of the Supreme Courtroom is listening to the case. Students should proceed to prepare for the exams,” solicitor normal Tushar Mehta, showing for UGC, mentioned.

The Supreme Courtroom was listening to a batch of petitions by a number of college students and organizations difficult the rules subject by UGC on July 6 to maintain final year examinations by September 30. A COVID-19 constructive scholar was one of many petitioners elevating the demand for the exams to be cancelled in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shiv Sena’s youth wing Yuva Sena was additionally a petitioner earlier than the Courtroom.

The petitioners have demanded the apex courtroom to take into account scrapping on-line/offline take a look at and as a substitute direct UGC to declare outcomes by July 31 primarily based on their previous efficiency or inside evaluation.

In the course of the listening to of the case on Friday, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, showing for the petitioners, mentioned that the states of Maharashtra and Delhi have determined to cancel final year exams in view of the Covid-19 state of affairs.

The UGC too had highlighted this truth in its affidavit filed earlier than the highest courtroom on Thursday stating that the choice by the 2 states was opposite to the UGC tips.

The bench headed by justice Ashok Bhushan requested Maharashtra and Delhi to submit their response to the identical.

“Counsel for the state of Maharashtra submits that the choice of the State Catastrophe Administration Committee dated June 19, 2021 (to cancel the final year examination) although referred within the counter affidavit has not but been introduced on document. Let the choice of the State Catastrophe Administration Committee be introduced on document. Counsel for the NCT of Delhi can also file affidavit. Affidavits (should) be filed on or earlier than August 7, 2021,” the bench which additionally comprised justices R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah mentioned.

The case shall be taken up for listening to subsequent on August 10.

The UGC’s affidavit mentioned that exams have been scheduled earlier than September to be certain that the educational future of scholars usually are not compromised and the choice was taken holding in thoughts the well being and security of scholars.

“All universities/ establishments within the nation are obligated to conduct terminal semester/ final year examination by the top of September 2021. The UGC took the choice to defend the educational future of scholars throughout the nation whereas additionally holding in thoughts their well being and security”, the affidavit acknowledged.

It was additionally submitted that the rules had been issued primarily based on the suggestions by an knowledgeable committee headed by Chairperson of Central University of Haryana, RC Kuhad.

Tushar Mehta identified that out of 945 universities, 209 have already held the final year examinations whereas one other 394 universities are within the means of conducting examinations throughout August-September.

“It (UGC tips) give adequate flexibility to universities to conduct exams on-line offline or blended (on-line and offline) mode and supply for examination via particular likelihood for college students who’re unable to seem for the examinations by September 2021. Issues of the petitioners have been greater than adequately addressed by UGC,” UGC’s affidavit mentioned.