Delhi High Court issues notice to Central Government, UGC on petition against mandate conducting final exams by September
The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the central government, University Grants Commission (UGC) and Delhi University on a petition filed against the decision to mandate conducting University and Colleges final year exams by September end.
The petition was filed by final year Delhi University students Kabir Sachdeva soughting directions to promote the final year students on the basis of marks obtained in previous years and internal assessment in the present year
A bench of Justice Jayant Nath, after hearing the submissions of the petitioner has issued notice to the Centre UGC and Delhi University and scheduled the matter for further hearing on August 4.
On July 6, UGC has issued revised exam guidelines mandating the Universities and colleges to hold final examinations by the end of September stating that the academic credibility, career opportunities and future progress of students were linked to exams.
The petitioner argued that the guidelines issued by the UGC demonstrate non-application of mind and colorable exercise of power and set an illegitimate expectation for the public to follow putting a large sect of the population at a significant threat amid pandemic.
The petitioner also said in the plea that in times of a global pandemic the concern Ministry and UGC have placed irrational weightage on academic evaluation and completely neglected the importance of lives of thousands of students.
The UGC has also acted in contravention and beyond powers conferred upon them under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, the plea said adding that the Union HRD Ministry and UGC are acting in gross violation of the fundamental rights of the students, is also said in the petition.