UGC Defends Final Year Exams with a 50-page Affidavit; Supreme Court Hearing Today

Yesterday (July 30), the University Grants Commission (UGC) submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court. In the affidavit, the UGC has defended the final year exams stating that exams are necessary for the future of these students. It said that the exams are to "protect the academic future of students". It also kept in mind their "health and safety". The 50-page affidavit also included Yuva Sena's plea. Yuva Sena challenged its guidelines, that UGC issued on July 6.

The guidelines stated that Universities should hold exams till September 30 during the pandemic. In the affidavit, UGC says that it took into account the evolving situation of the pandemic. Further, it has also provided the varsities with sufficient time to conduct the exams.

The affidavit also said that they have given universities sufficient flexibility to conduct exam via online, offline or hybrid modes. Moreover, the Commission also added, "In case a student is unable to appear for the exam, they would be given a chance to appear at a specially conducted exam at a later date. This way it does not put the student through any inconvenience or disadvantage."

UGC Final Year Exams- Supreme Court hearing today

The Supreme Court has accepted a petition filed by 31 students. These students filed a petition against the revised UGC guidelines for conducting final year or final semester examinations in colleges and universities across India. The University Grants Commission has now asked the apex court to submit its reply within 3 days. The hearing is scheduled for July 31.

The affidavit asks the Supreme court to dismiss all the pleas. It said that such a decision will directly affect the standards of higher education in the country. It will "encroach on the legislative field of coordinating and determining the standards of higher education reserved exclusively for the parliament under Entry 66 of List I of Schedule VII of the Constitution of India."