NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to respond to petitions challenging its directive to universities/colleges to conduct final year examinations by September 30.
A Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan asked the UGC to spell out its stand on more than a dozen petitions filed by students from across India and posted the matter for further hearing on July 31.
The petitioners, including a COVID-19 positive student, pointed out that there were many final year students, who either themselves or their family members were hit by the pandemic.
On behalf of the UGC, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said a response will be filed by day after tomorrow i.e. July 29.
The top court said the petitioners can file their rejoinders, if any, by July 30.
The petitioners have demanded quashing of the July 6 UGC circular directing universities to hold final year examinations by September 30 this year.
The petitioners wanted the UGC to follow the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) which has decided to hold examinations at a later date for students not satisfied with their marks given on the basis of internal assessment.
The Aditya Thackeray-led Yuva Sena — youth wing of Shiv Sena — too had on Saturday moved the top court seeking cancellation of final year university examinations in view of COVID19 pandemic.
It highlighted the fact that IITs and governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Pondicherry have already cancelled final year examinations.
The top court had on July 24 dismissed petition by National Students Union of India (NSUI) — the student wing of Congress –seeking to cancellation/postponement of all pending examinations, saying the Centre would look into it.