Maharashtra University Exams 2020: UGC says state govt has no power to cancel exams

Opposing Maharashtra government’s decision of cancelling all final year examinations across all varsities in state, University Grants Commission (UGC) has told Bombay High Court on July 24 that state government does t have power to make such declaration. Commission told court that according to rules of final year examinations, power to cancel all final year exams lies with regulator instead. Under Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Manment Act, state government had anunced cancellation of all final year examinations in state universities as coronavirus contagion has continued to tighten its grip on state for several months w. 

Despite anuncement of Maharashtra government, a petition was filed by Dhananjay Kulkarni, a retired teacher and former member of university senate from Pune challenging that decision of cancelling exams altoger. It was in response to this petition that an affidavit was filed. UGC has challenged state government’s decision saying that such acts or statuses can t be imposed to  "render statutory provisions of ar special Act such as University Grants Commissioner Act nugatory".

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Maha govt contradicted UGC guidelines

decision made by Maharashtra government came in contradiction of guidelines issued by UGC on April 29 and July 6 that asked all universities and educational institutions to conduct examinations by September end. Commission’s guidelines came after Union Ministry of Home Affairs allowed exams to be conducted by universities. Thus, in a bid to ensure health safety of student and teachers, UGC has issued a list of precautionary measures while also keeping in mind relevance of exams. 

UGC has also said in its affidavit that Maharashtra government’s decision “to defer final year examinations or to graduate students without holding exams would directly affect standards of higher education in country”. document also asserted that Commission was apex body for regulation and determining standards of education and it also said, “All universities/institutions in country are obligated to conduct final year examination by end of September 2020”.

If a student due to any reason fails to appear for examinations, Caffidavit said that specific candidate is allowed to take exams later. guidelines by UGC provided flexible modes for conducting exams, wher online or offline or mixed. On April 27, Commission had instructed all educational institutes and universities to conduct exams. 

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(With inputs from PTI)