The University Grants Commission (UGC), opposing Maharashtra and Delhi government’s appeals to cancel the final-year exams, filed its reply in the Supreme Court on Thursday, August 13.
The UGC stated that the decision of the state government will impact 'standards of higher education', further adding that it is an important step in the academic career of a student. The matter's next hearing is slated for August 14.
On August 7, the Maharashtra government had informed the Supreme Court that the government has decided to not conduct examinations in the state in the midst of the pandemic.
The decision was taken after a majority of University Vice-Chancellors from across the state voted against conducting the exams. Maharashtra which is still the worst-hit state by the coronavirus, has new hotspots emerging like Pune, Thane, Palghar as the city of Mumbai tries to flatten the curve.
Back in July, Aaditya Thackeray, Shiv Sena MLA, had moved the Supreme Court against the decision of the centre to hold final year exams for colleges and universities in September, after they were postponed from earlier this year due to the outbreak of the pandemic and the coronavirus induced lockdown. The petition has been filed by the Yuva Sena, which is the youth wing of the ruling Shiv Sena and is led by Aaditya Thackeray.
The decision to conduct the final-year examinations during the coronavirus outbreak has so far been a controversial one, with several opposition leaders, like Congress's Rahul Gandhi, against holding them this year.
Share
Tweet
