After SC Dismisses Plea To Postpone NEET And JEE Main Exams, What Can Students Expect From The Case Against UGC Final Year Guidelines?

The Supreme Court has given a green signal to NEET and JEE (Main exams) after rejecting a petition filed by students seeking a postponement. What can students expect from the ongoing hearing of petitions challenging UGC guidelines for final year exams?

UGC Final Year Guidelines 2020: Supreme Court today dismissed a student petition seeking the postponement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), scheduled to be held in September 2020. The court has expressed that exams are important so that students don’t lose an academic year. In a report by Live Law, Justice Arun Misra said on the plea seeking postponement of JEE/NEET 2020 Examinations: "Life should move on even in the times of Covid-19. Can we just stop exams? We should move on. Justice Misra has said that if examinations are not conducted it will be a loss to the students as they will lose one academic year.” He also said that aren't people demanding for the courts to re-open? Why cannot then exams be conducted with precautions, he asked. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that exams should be conducted, and adequate precautions will be taken.



This brings to the spotlight the ongoing hearing on the UGC guidelines for final year exams in which students are against the recent UGC guidelines that have made it mandatory for universities and colleges to conduct exams by September 30th, 2020. The next hearing on the case has been scheduled for tomorrow, August 18.

UGC guidelines for final year exams hearing

In the last hearing held on August 14, Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava appeared for students seeking to cancel the exam. According to a report by Bar and Bench, in the hearing, questions were raised about the impact of UGC's decision on the health of the students. the problems of transportation and the feasibility of the exams since many students have gone back to their homes due to the pandemic were also raised.

'There is a great disparity between the classes of students who are expected to appear. Many students have gone back to their hometown," said Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi who is the lead Counsel in the case.

But in the earlier hearings held on August 14 and 10, the UGC has maintained that it has no intention of changing its decision and has advised that students continue their preparation for the final year exams. The academic body had also questioned the decision of Maharashtra and Delhi to cancel the final year exams and said the decision by both the states is contradictory especially when the process of admissions for the new academic session is impending. Recently the High Court of Himachal Pradesh stayed the UGC examination until the orders of the Supreme Court of India are pronounced in the matter.

What can students expect?

The UGC had earlier submitted to the  Supreme Court that till a verdict is reached, awaited, final year students should continue studying for the exams. Looking at the Supreme Court's decision on the plea for NEET and JEE exams, it is advisable that students remain prepared for every situation. Many universities such as Delhi University have already started examinations. Though students have complained of technical challenges, the university is continuing with its schedule.

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