Latest Updates

• SC will continue hearing the plea challenging UGC guidelines on September exams on Tuesday, August 18, 2020
• UGC probes Maharastra and Delhi government decision to scrap final year exams
• UGC, lone body to confer degrees, justifies the decision to complete exams by September
• Petitioner argues on UGC’s guidelines to be advisory in nature
• India Wide Parents Association seeks MHA’s interference for holding JEE Main and NEET in 2020

The Hon’ble Supreme Court is hearing the petition challenging UGC’s decision to hold final year exams by September 2020 to confer degrees to students. The apex court has been already hearing to a multitude of pleas regarding the conduct of final exams as per UGC guidelines issued in July 2020. 

Today, the apex court is hearing to the petition of 31 students jointly filed by Yuva Sena and law students, dealt by Supreme Court Bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan. 

SC on UGC’s Final Year Exam 2020: Check Live Updates

1:00 PM: SC will continue hearing on Tuesday August 18, 2020

12:59 PM: Divan raises transport and accessibility issue and students’ constant anxiety encircling uncertainty around exams. He argues, when exams were not permitted in April, how can it be conducted in September when COVID-19 cases increasing in lakhs.

12:54 PM: Divan refers Unlock 3 guidelines stating educational institutes to remain closed till August 31. September 30 is an unusual date, does not consider heath concerns, the fight is not regular times. DM Act applicable now, does not allow exerting power to dilute provisions. 

12:17 PM: Divan says, UGC guidelines are advisory in nature, universities can chart out own plans. 

12:11 PM: Students have reached hometowns and States of Maharashtra, Delhi and Oriss have cancelled exams. 

11:30 AM: Ahishek Manu Singhvi argues, when COVID cases are increasing exponentially, holding exams will affect heath of students.

SC proceedings on Petition Challenging Final Year Exam Guidelines of UGC

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench states cannot modify UGC’s rules as it confers degrees. Mehta argued that holding exams will be unfair for students if states work unilaterally in this situation.

Mehta added, Delhi and Maharashtra filed affidavits for cancelling final year exams, to which UGC is yet to respond. The bench had granted time till August 14, 2020, for the response. 

Check: UGC: Delhi & Maharashtra Govt Decision of Scrapping Final Year Exams stand Void ab initio

UGC informed SC, that state government cannot label July 2020 directives as ‘not binding’ when a lot of flexibility is given for conducting exams. It also filed an affidavit stating Maharastra cannot take resort in the DM Act and intrude in sectors exclusively reserved for UGC. 

India Wide Parents Association Seeks MHA on JEE Main, NEET in 2020

India Wide Parents Association has been constantly campaigning for postponement of JEE Main and NEET scheduled for September 2020.

As per Anubha Shrivastava Sahai, president of the association, it has written to Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education and National Testing Agency claiming 8,400 students had earlier demanded postponement.

Simultaneously, 11 students from 11 states filed a petition at SC that cite safety concerns to attend two national level entrance exams in September amid spiking COVID cases in India.

The letter reads: “We have already shared a detailed representation mentioning postponement of JEE, NEET exam in September due to Covid-19 pandemic. Would like to again request to consider the same. 

I am also attaching the response received from around 8400 students from across India regarding postponement of exams. Request you to kindly consider the same and reconsider the decision to conduct the exam and postpone the same in the larger interest of the students.”

The letter also reads: “College fests duration can be decreased. Time allotted to other non-academic activities can be reduced for the first year. 

Some amount of syllabus from the first year can be removed and that can be included in the 2nd and 3rd years.” They claim, if such suggestions are entertained, it will save 2 months of academic loss.