[Students vs UGC] Odisha Govt's Concerns Over Conducting Final Year Examinations 'Unfounded': UGC Tells SC [Read Reply]

The University Grants Commission has rebutted the concerns raised by the Odisha Government over conducting of final year examinations amid the pandemic. UGC Directive To Hold Final Year Exams 'Not Implementable': Odisha Govt Tells SC The Odisha Government had argued that even if the final year examination is conducted, its "sanctity" will be greatly compromised and that examinations should not be conducted "just for the sake of conducting it". The State Government had also prayed that it should be allowed to implement the letter dated June 18, 2020, addressed by the Higher Education Department of the state to the Vice Chancellors and Principals of all concerned State Universities and Colleges, for adoption of an "alternative evaluation method" in respect of UG and PG Final Year/ Final Semester, 2020 students. Other grounds, as taken by the UGC in its previous affidavit, include: the direction to hold final year examinations by September 30 was issued to "protect the academic future of students"; conducting examinations for final year students is necessary to test them on "specialized elective courses" studied by them during the terminal year; The conduct of terminal exams is a "time-sensitive" issue and the decision was taken after due deliberations with experts following MHRD guidelines; UGC Guidelines were issued by it while exercising statutory powers under Sections 12 read with 26 of the UGC Act, and are binding on all Universities; ) read with 26 of the UGC Act, and are binding on all Universities; UGC Guidelines provide ample options to the Universities to permit appearance of students in examinations via online/ offline mode, "to protect the academic and career interests of students while at the same time, safeguarding their health".