The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented UGC on behalf of the government. He said that the UGC has the authority to make rules in the matter of examination.
The Supreme Court gave its verdict on Friday on the petitions filed against the UGC decision on final year examinations of the universities and colleges. The court, however, upheld the UGC’s July 6 guidelines. The court said, “States have the right to cancel the examination, but students will not be promoted without taking the examination. However, in the current situation, states can take a decision after advancing the deadline and consulting the UGC for new dates.”
A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah, while delivering the verdict, said it was a matter for the future of the students. It is also necessary to maintain the standard of higher education in the country.
Also Read: 31 Students File Petition In SC Against UGC’s Decision To Conduct Exams
However, the court gave some relief to the states, saying that if they cannot get the examinations done due to the epidemic, then the UGC will have to be consulted for new dates. The states may take a decision on furthering the deadline of examinations under the Disaster Management Act, but keeping in view the future of the students, they will have to follow the UGC guidelines.
The states had decided to cancel the examinations themselves
The last hearing was held on August 18 on the applications challenging the UGC’s guideline to conduct the final year or semester examinations for graduation and post-graduation at the university and other higher education institutions by 30 September. However, the court reserved the judgment that day. During this previous hearing the arguments of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi and Odisha were also heard. These states had taken the decision to cancel the examinations themselves. During the hearing, the UGC termed the decision of these states against the law.
‘UGC to make rules’
During the hearing, the government said in the court that it is in the interest of the students to conduct the final year examination. The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented UGC on behalf of the government. He said that the UGC has the authority to make rules in the matter of examination.
Some students were also demanding cancellation of final year exams. He sought to promote on the basis of internal evolution or the performance of previous years.
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