The Government of Delhi notified the Supreme Court via affidavit that it has cancelled the Final Year Exams in all Delhi state universities. The notice came in response to a plea challenging UGC guidelines for directing the final year exams before September 30, 2020.
Earlier, on July 12, the Kejriwal-led government had cancelled the final year exams due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. After that, the government did not change its decision of not conducting the exams. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister stated, “All Delhi State Universities to cancel all written online and offline semester examinations including final year exams.”
A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, MR Shah and R. Subhash Reddy heard the petition filed by over 31 students from different states challenging the UGC’s circular of July 6, 2020, directing the universities to conduct exams for the final term by September 30, 2020.
On 10th August, the Supreme Court granted time to the UGC to respond to the affidavits filed by the government of Maharashtra and Delhi for not conducting final year exams at state universities. The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta if the Disaster Management Act overrides the UGC’s guidelines and granted time to respond. The court will hear the case on August 14, 2020.
SG Mehta said that students must continue their preparation for exams. “If exams aren’t conducted, students can’t get a degree. That’s the law,” he added.
As per reports, Universities were enquired of the status of conducting examinations. Out of 818 responses received, there are 121 deemed, 52 central, 291 private, and 355 state universities. And according to data, 603 have either conducted the exams or they are planning to do so. Apart from this, 209 universities have already conducted exams either in online or offline mode and over 394 universities are planning to conduct online or offline examinations in August and September.
Tap here to read the guidelines given to DU for conducting OBE.
Tap here to read the highlights of the plea heard in the Supreme Court.
