Delhi HC issues notice in plea challenging Centre, UGC decision to conduct mandatory exams for final-year college students

The Delhi High Court has issued notice in a petition challenging the Central Government and University Grants Commission orders on conducting mandatory examination for final-year college students by the end of September 2020 via offline, online or a blended method in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Kabir Sachdeva vs UOI).Notice to the Central Government, UGC and Delhi University was issued by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Jayant Nath in a petition preferred by a final-year student at Delhi University, Kabir Sachdeva (Petitioner). .Union Home Ministry permits conduct of examinations by Universities and Institutions.In times of a global pandemic, the Central Government and UGC have placed irrational weightage on academic evaluation and completely neglected the importance of lives of thousands of students, the Petitioner has asserted..The Petitioner has submitted that the decision is in violation of Articles 14 and 21 and is against public interest. .The Petitioner has claimed that the decision to mandatorily conduct final year examination was taken by the authorities without consulting the universities or considering the representations of various teachers associations and students. .It is also argued that the UGC guidelines are ex-facie without any authority of law as its powers under the statute are limited to issuing advisories..While raising grievances with respect to the manner and mode in which Delhi Univeristy is proposing to conduct its online Open Book Examination, the Petitioner points out that several universities in India have already opted for more pragmatic approach by evaluating the students on the basis of their performance in the previous years/semesters or internal assessment..Delhi University agrees to hold Open Book Exam between August 10-31 after Delhi HC asks it to advance exam schedule.Given the situation of the pandemic, the Delhi Government itself has cancelled examination for final year students in state colleges, it is added..In view of the above, the Petitioner has sought a direction to promote final-year students on the basis of average of marks obtained in previous years and internal assessment in the present year. .The petition was filed through Advocate Dhruv Pande and Randeep Sachdeva. Petitioner was represented through Advocate Manik Dogra. .UGC was represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. Advocate M Rupal appeared for DU. .The matter would be heard next on August 4.