Chandigarh: The exams for final year students continue to be a matter of concern as many universities haven’t yet come to terms with how do they want to proceed with the exams despite the UGC guidelines. While some are revolting, stating how it is not possible, as many as 100s of colleges have agreed to conduct the exams anyway.
And now, given the constant increase in the COVID 19 patients, both Panjab and the Haryana High Courts have come to a conclusion that Panjab University can consider cancelling the final year exams and instead, pass students on the basis of their performance in the previous semesters.
This suggestion also stems from the fact that Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have decided to do away with the final year exams and evaluate them on their previous semester marks. As of now, the interim stay on the conducting of final year exams by the Panjab University is on hold and a decision will be taken on or around August 13.
Himmat Singh Sidhu, the Advocate for the counsel for petitioner has also highlighted during the hearing how there are students who will have to travel from distance places, including the likes of Leh and Ladakh in order to appear for the examinations and given the coronavirus, it is a rather difficult thing to do.
By the end of the arguments heard, the High Court has observed that in light of the decisions from the Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu government dated June 23 and June 22, 2020, respectively, Panjab University must consider passing students without conducting final year exams and on the basis of their performance in the other semesters.
The directions from HC come after petitions have urged the court to do away with the final year exams when a notice regarding the same was published on June 19, 2020. The notice suggested that the Panjab University will take exams in July 20, as per directions by the University Grants Commission.
During the hearing, other instances of judgments passed by the Delhi High Court regarding the conducting of exams or that of Symbiosis International to not take the exams were also mentioned. Hence, in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, it was stated that the Panjab University should avoid conducting the final year exams altogether.
