The wait of over lakhs of final year varsity students has finally come to an end, Supreme Court upholds the University Grants Commission's July 6 circular to hold University final year exams. Court says States must hold exams to promote students.
It says states under Disaster management Act can postpone exams in view of pandemic & can consult UGC to fix dates. The final year exams will be conducted by September 30.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that there was no infirmity in the July 6 circular that asked universities across the country to complete final year exams by the said deadline.
- States and universities will have to hold exams to promote students and confer degrees and that internal assessments will not suffice the requirements of the UGC.
- The states will be authorised to postpone exams under the Disaster Management Act, they will not be able to confer degrees on students without exams.
- States should approach the UGC with their problems and asking for suitable reliefs regarding the final year exams.
- Students' degrees might not be recognised unless UGC's mandate is followed by all universities.
On July 6, the UGC had issued guidelines that stated it was mandatory for Universities to conduct the final year exams using any– pen and paper, online, or a combination of both by September 30th, 2020. The hearing today is on the plea challenging this very decision amid pandemic.
(To be updated)
