High Court to decide on 7th July whether to cancel final year examinations of the DU or not; asks UGC’S Committee to submit its report [Read Order]

Delhi High Court in the case titled as Anupam & ors. v. University of Delhi through its Registrar & ors. has asked UGC’S Committee headed by Prof. Kuhad to submit its report and the ministry of HRD to take a specific stand as to whether they recommend cancellation of final year examinations or not. Delhi High Court recorded that there should be no further delays and asked the above authorities to place on record the report on 7^th July, 2020 by 4:00 pm.

The matter was decided on 6^th July 2020 by Honourable Justice Prathiba M. Singh.

Facts of the Case

The petition was filed by several students of the final year of the Delhi University seeking quashing and withdrawal of the notifications dated 14^th May, 2020, 30^th  May, 2020 and 27^th June, 2020 in respect of undergraduate and postgraduate students, including students of the School of Open Learning and Non-Collegiate Women Education Board.

Arguments advanced by the Petitioner’s Counsel

Mr. Akash Sinha, counsel appearing for the Petitioners submitted that DU has notified the online Open Book Examination which was to begin on 1^st July 2020. However, on 27^th June, 2020, the same was postponed to 10 July, 2020. The exact dates for the conduct of examinations for the various courses have still not been released. Petitioner argued that there are several problems that are being faced by students who are giving mock tests.

The online examinations have to be given by students from their own private homes or from the community service centers where there would be an arrangement for computers. However, when several students reached the community service centers, the centers were not aware of the mock tests to be conducted.

Technical glitches faced by students during the mock test

The Counsels appearing on behalf of DU accepted that there were technical glitches faced on the first day of the mock test, however, according to them, on the second day, the mock tests have been conducted smoothly. Several screenshots were placed on record before Court as evidence of technical glitches faced by students.

The decision of the Court

The Delhi High Court observed that a large number of States, Universities, and institutions have canceled final year examinations – for example, State of Maharashtra, Orissa, Haryana, MP, Punjab, NALSAR (Hyderabad), NUJS (Kolkata) etc. Some Universities and institutions have opted for conducting examinations online which have already been completed. A large number of Universities are also awaiting UGC’s fresh guidelines.

The Delhi High Court has asked DU to place on record various details like state-wise break-up for students, the preparedness of the website portal for the handling of the traffic during examinations etc. The matter is now listed to be heard by Delhi High Court on 7^th July 2020 where it has asked UGC’S committee and HRD to submit its report.

Read Order @Latestlaws.com