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States cannot decide to cancel examinations citing pandemic as a reason: UGC

On Tuesday, the UGC argued in the Supreme Court stating that the states cannot decide to unilaterally cancel the exams citing the pandemic as a reason.

States cannot decide to cancel examinations citing pandemic as a reason: UGC
SHARES

On Tuesday, August 18, the University Grants Commission (UGC) argued in the Supreme Court stating that the states cannot decide to unilaterally cancel the exams citing the pandemic as a reason.

The bench is hearing the question whether states like Maharashtra and Delhi could have cancelled the UGC final exams unilaterally while overruling the UGC directive. The court reserved the case for judgment.

This came up after the apex court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by over 30 students, represented by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, questioning the validity of the UGC’s directive.

However, the UGC in its argument stated that if the states can open up institutions for the next academic year, then it becomes pointless to argue against conducting the examinations adding that cancelling the examinations would cause damage beyond repair to the future of the students.

On August 7, the Maharashtra government had informed the Supreme Court that it has decided to not conduct examinations in the state keeping in view the coronavirus crisis. The decision was taken after a majority of University Vice-Chancellors from across the state had voted against conducting exams.

Back in July, the UGC issued the revised guidelines with regards to examinations and academic calendar which directed all educational institutions in the country to conduct the final year examination by the end of September 2020.

On July 6, the UGC justified the revised guidelines stating that it adequately takes into account the evolving situation of the pandemic which is why it provides sufficient time till the end of September 2020 to conduct these examinations after following the prescribed protocols and procedures relating to the coronavirus.


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