Varsities can open for final exams: Govt to SC

NEWDELHI: The Union government has given relaxations to colleges and universities across the country and allowed them to open for the conduct of final-year examinations, which will be held in accordance with an order issued by the UGC, the Union home ministry said in an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The submission to the court comes at a time when at least two states — Delhi and Maharashtra — have cancelled final-term exams in view of the Covid-19 pandemic despite a UGC order mandating the holding of such exams by September 30.

“Taking into consideration the academic interest of a large number of students, it was decided to grant an exemption for the opening of educational institutions for the purposes of holding examinations/evaluation work for Final Term Examinations of the Universities /Institutions,” the MHA affidavit said.

Schools and colleges have been closed since March-end. There are indications that the government has prepared standard operating procedures for the reopening of schools. But there are no immediate reopening plans after the current restrictions end on August 31. The guidelines for the ongoing “Unlock 3” phase say educational institutions will remain closed until at least end of this month.

On July 6, higher education regulator UGC said universities and colleges across India will have to hold their final-year or final-semester examinations — online, offline or by using a combination of both — by September 30. The same day, the home ministry said final-term exams will be held in line with UGC guidelines.

The decision was met with resistance with a section of students demanding the scrapping of examinations. The issue reached the top court. Petitioners have urged the court to consider scrapping online/offline tests.

ORDERS LIMITED REOPENING OF VARSITIES CONSIDERING STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC INTEREST