Delhi HC allows student to withdraw plea against UGC exam guidelines as case pending in SC

Delhi High Court Thursday allowed a student to withdraw plea challenging UGC guidelines making it mandatory for colleges to conduct final year exams by September-end as issue is pending before Supreme Court.

Justice Jayant Nath, who conducted hearing through video conferencing, also granted liberty to student to approach Supreme Court with his plea. “Granting leave and liberty as sought, petition is dismissed as withdrawn,” court said.

plea filed by final year Delhi University student Kabir Sachdeva challenged guidelines of July 6, making it mandatory for colleges to conduct exams for final year students by end of September this year via offline, online or a blended method in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

Advocate Manik Dogra, representing Sachdeva, informed high court that similar petitions challenging guidelines of University Grants Commission (UGC) are also filed in Supreme Court and a better recourse would be to approach apex court w.

Advocate Apoorv Kurup, representing UGC, said matter is listed before apex court on Friday and y have been asked to file response to petitions.

high court had earlier sought response of Centre, UGC and Delhi University on petition which has also challenged an office memorandum of July 6 passed by Ministry of Human Resources and Development, Department of Higher Education, providing instructions for conducting exams along with standard operating procedures for conducting exams.

“In times of a global pandemic respondent . 1 (HRD Ministry) and 2 (UGC) have placed irrational weight on academic evaluation and completely neglected importance of lives of thousands of students.

UGC has also acted in contravention and beyond powers conferred upon m under University Grants Commission Act, 1956,” said plea, filed through advocates Dhruv Pande and Randeep Sachdeva.

It sought to direct authorities to promote final year students on basis of aver of marks obtained in previous years and internal assessment in present year.

On July 6, UGC had issued revised exam guidelines mandating to hold final examinations in colleges and universities by end of September stating that academic credibility, career opportunities and future progress of students were linked to exams

(Photo Credit: PTI)