UGC Final Year University Exam Guidelines: SC To Hear Plea By 31 Students Challenging Decision Today

The Supreme Court is set to hear a plea by 31 students challenging the latest guidelines by UGC for final year university exams.

(File Pic : PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is set to hear the plea filed by 31 students challenging the UGC decision for final year university exams today. According to a report by Bar and Bench, a three-judge bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy, and MR Shah will hear the petition. In the plea filed by students from 13 states and one union territory, they have said that the latest guidelines are arbitrary and put the lives of students at risk. The petitioners have sought cancellations of examinations and said that results for this year should be calculated on the basis of their internal assessment or past performance. According to the latest guidelines by the UGC, it is mandatory for universities to conduct final year exams by the end of September. Varsities are allowed to choose any mode for the exams – pen and paper, online, or a combination of both as per the feasibility and suitability. It also said that examinations are mandatory for the students who have a backlog. Such students must be compulsorily evaluated by conducting examinations in offline, online, or combined mode. In case a final year students are unable to appear in the examination for any reason, he/she may be given the opportunity to appear in special examinations for such course/ paper which may be conducted by the university as and when feasible. This is applicable for the current academic session (2019-20) as a one-time special measure. The UGC has received backlash for their decision on the final year university exams. Many states have opposed the move especially as cases of coronavirus continue to rise in the country. While Punjab government has written to the centre to reconsider the decision on final year exams, Maharashtra cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the decision. Despite this, the UGC continues to stand firm on its decision. Secretary Prof Rajnish Jain, had said in an earlier report by ANI, "Conducting final year examinations for graduation or post-graduation courses is very important, and the safety of students is our prime concern.”