UGC final exam: SC reserves order, all parties gets 3 days to make submission

August 18: The Supreme Court has today resumed hearing plea challenging the July 6 circular issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) mandating to conduct the final year exams by the end of September. A Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan while hearing the matter reserved its order in the students’ plea against against University Grants Commission’s decision to make final-year exams compulsory. Supreme Court has asked all the parties to give a note on their submissions within the next three days.

The UGC, however, has maintained a stance that exams are critical for final year students. Several states including Delhi and Maharashtra had earlier cancelled the exams for students in the respective states. The plea is against UGC’s decision asking institutes to conduct final year exams by September 30.

While hearing the matter, Justice Bhushan said, “If there is a direction of UGC, the university cannot dilute it. If one university dilutes it, every other university will act in the same manner.” He further added that only the authorities will be able to decide students’ welfare and that students are not ‘competent’ enough to decide.