On Monday, the High Court of Delhi directed the Delhi University to commence the physical examinations for final year students by Sept 14, by asking it to expedite the process of conducting physical examinations.

A division bench of Justice Hima Kohli & Justice S. Prasad said, "We are of the opinion that the University should expedite conducting physical examinations so that the entire process can be over at the earliest."

The Court said that "Though we are informed that at least two weeks are required after the online examinations are over on August 31, for the University to gear up, we are of the opinion that physical examinations should commence by September 8, 2020. However, since Sachin Dutta, Senior Advocate pleads that that would be too shorter time & there is immense pressure on the available manpower, Delhi University is directed to commence the physical examinations by Sept 14".

As DU counsel wasn't in a position to indicate the end date of the physical examination, the Court said that the end date shall be placed on record in the affidavit to be filed by the Delhi University.

The Court then listed the matter for Aug 27 for further hearing.

Senior Lawyer SK Rungta, appearing for the petitioner National Federation of the Blind told the Court the leftover students in the PWD category, particularly the visually handicapped category, who propose to sit for the physical examinations even though they may have sat for the online OBE examination, would face great hardship as the University hostels are all shut down & they have to travel to Delhi to sit physically for the examinations.

There will be challenges relating to their transportation as also their place of stay in Delhi. Delhi University is directed to verify the number of leftover PWD category students & students in the said category who would wish to sit for the physical examination again though they may have taken the online OBE mode of examination, for arriving at an assessment & for working out the modalities of a place of stay & transportation from where they are presently staying to Delhi, to sit for the physical examinations.
The Court asked the varsity to furnish details on an affidavit in this regard & also asked HRD Ministry to address this problem & come up with some practical solutions by filing a separate affidavit.

The Court also took note of affidavit filed by Delhi University related to the data of students who have appeared in the OBE mode of examinations that had commenced on Aug 10.

Senior Advocate Sachin Dutta appearing for the Delhi University submitted that on the very first date, i.e., on August 10, as against 79,438 students who had registered with the University to sit for the online OBE examination, 38,058 students were expected to take the examination & 36,663 students had actually participated in the examination & 33,957 students had attempted the papers.

The lawyer further apprised the Court that the number kept increasing in the second, & thereafter other dates of examination.

The Court was hearing various petitions related to Delhi University's final term examination, including one filed by Prateek Sharma & another by the National Federation of the Blind. 

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