Aaditya Thackrey and 31 students moves Supreme Court against UGC's decision on examination during Covid-19 scare

UGC’S DECISION

UGC in its July 6 circular released revised guidelines on Examinations and Academic calendar for Universities during Covid-19 whereby all universities all across India have been asked to wrap up final year or final term examinations before September 30.

The UGC on July 18 said that it had asked universities to inform about the status of conduct of their exams, adding that 755 universities had sent their response to it. Of these, it said, 194 universities informed that they had conducted their exams, while 366 said that they would do so in August/September and 177 universities are yet to decide on the conduct of the examination.

THACKREY’S PETITION

In view of the above, keeping in mind the plight of the students, Aaditya Thackeray Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and President of the Youth wing had earlier written letters on May 9 and July 7 to both UGC and HRD Ministry to cancel the final year exams explaining associated difficulties to the same and suggesting to promote students on the basis of average marks. Has now moved to the Apex Court for the same, highlighting current deteriorating covid-19 condition and how it is not conducive to hold examinations.

“Even in this highly worrying time, the Government of India's Ministry of Human Resource Development's (MHRD) Minister & University Grants Commission (UGC) have announced that Final Year Examinations be conducted in India by Universities in the month of September 2020, keeping in mind the adoption of its guidelines, but ignoring the physical and mental health, anxiety and safety of students across the country. The 31 Guidelines that UGC had announced for conducting these exams will not be effective given the severity of this Pandemic.” - Press Release of YuvaSena

The Apex Court is yet to admit the petition.

PRANEETH K. & ORS. v. UNION OF INDIA

Soon after Aaditya Thackrey’s Petition, a group of 31 students from different universities across India filed a petition before the Apex Court to quash the UGC decision to wrap up final year examinations by September 30. One among those is COVID-19 positive. The petition filed through Advocate Anubha Srivastava Sahai urges that the planned examinations should be cancelled in the interest of justice for the students as the number of COVID-19 cases is on the rise.

FURTHER PRAYERS

Once the final year or final semester exams of all universities are cancelled, the results of such students should be calculated on the basis of their internal assessment or past performance. It is also urged that the students' marksheets should be issued before July 31.

Also,suggests UGC to adopt the CBSE model and conduct an examination at a later date for the students who are not satisfied with the marks awarded on the basis of their internal/ past assessment.