Will The Wait Be Over Today? SC To Hear Petitions Challenging UGC Final Year Guidelines Today

Will students finally get some clarity regarding final year university exam today? The Supreme Court is set to continue the hearing on petitions challenging the latest UGC guidelines on final year exams today.

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UGC latest news: The Supreme Court will be hearing the petitions challenging the decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC)  to hold final year University exams. The court has completed hearing both sides of the argument. In the last hearing held on August 14,  questions were raised about the impact of UGC's decision on the health of the students. Several issues were brought out such as 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. Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi who is the Lead Counsel in the case also questioned why exams were being held even though teaching schedule this year was completely disrupted due to Covid 19. 'Exams have to be held after teaching ... teaching has been disrupted and exams will be held now?' said Singhvi in the report. In their argument, the UGC has maintained that the decision on the final year exams was taken only after recommendations by an expert panel. The academic body has also maintained that it has no intention to change the plan. 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. Despite the ongoing cases, exams have begun at Delhi University and even Anna University in Chennai announced that it is planning to conduct exams. TThe Supreme Court on Monday had 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. This makes today's verdict crucial for students.