The Supreme Court (SC) declared that University Grants Commission
(UGC) guidelines can’t be revoked and States and Union Territories (UTs) who are unable to organise exams before 30th September can approach the UGC for extension.
SC said that the final year exams must be conducted and only by the UGC guidelines.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan pronounced the judgement on the student plea against UGC meaning, the final year exams are to be compulsorily conducted.
“State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) can postpone but cannot directly pass students based on previous performance,” SC.
“UGC guidelines bear in mind the prevailing pandemic across the country,” SC added.
Education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank accepted the SCs decision quoting,
“Let us keep politics away from education and make our politics more educated.”
June 26
UGC opposed Maharashtra Government’s decision of cancelling final year exams, saying ,”the state governments cannot decide to cancel examinations for final-year students.”
July 7
End-term examination for all final year UGC students mandatory.
To be conducted by the end of September in an offline, online or blended mode.
Opposed by several state governments and final year students.
July 20
Students stood against UGC’s decision and requested to promote on basis of their previous performances.
July 30
UGC had informed the SC about the extension of dates if students are unable to appear before September 2020.
August 18
SC made final-year exams compulsory.
The hearing concluded on August 18.
On August 17, the Supreme Court also dismissed pleas to postpone JEE Main and NEET due to the coronavirus pandemic.
