'Violations of University Act': Maha Guv rejects CM's proposal to cancel final year exams

Maharashtra Goverr Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Tuesday criticized and turned down proposal of CM Uddhav Thackeray to cancel final year university examinations amid Coronavirus pandemic situation and called it 'unprecedented and violations of University Act.'

'Without any profound thinking on legal repercussions'

According to an official statement, Koshyari asserted that Chancellor of Universities has final authority over all university matters as per provisions of Maharashtra Public Universities Act. He also conveyed to Uddhav Thackeray that decision regarding holding examinations of final year students 'shall be taken in consonance with provisions of Maharashtra Public Universities Act.'

He was "surprised" to learn through media reports that CM had declared that " examinations shall be conducted this year", Koshyari said. "Describing anuncement of cancellation of examinations by Chief Minister as "unprecedented" and made "without any profound thinking on legal repercussions", Goverr remarked that decision, if implemented, would jeopardise future of students," statement said.

In letter, Goverr wrote, " University Grants Commission (UGC) and or central authorities are of view that final year examination may t be dispensed with and that refore State Government should abide by UGC guidelines along with provisions of Maharashtra Universities Act, 2017." Goverr pointed out that during his video conference with Vice Chancellors, all Vice-Chancellors of state universities had communicated ir preparedness for conducting ir respective examinations.

READ | Cyclone Nisarga: PM Modi dials Gujarat & Maharashtra CMs, assures Centre's full support

'Examinations cant be made optional'

Goverr stated he had clearly mentioned that Chancellors' office shall give furr directions after accepting recommendations of committee partially or fully once report was received by him, statement said. " arbitrary decision has violated basic principle that to obtain an identical degree, re cant be two sets of criteria, one who has given examination and for or who has obtained marks on aver. examinations cant be made optional," statement quoted Goverr as saying.

READ | Cyclone Nisarga likely to cross Maharashtra, Gujarat coast by Wednesday afteron: IMD

Thackeray in an address to State on Sunday evening anunced that with lockdown extended till June 30, State has choice but to promote final-year students based on ir performance of previous semester and academic year. Earlier on Saturday, Thackeray directed Vice-Chancellors of n-agricultural universities in State to find out ways to end uncertainty over holding examinations for delayed academic session.

READ | Active COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra soar to 38493; recovery rate stands at 43.33%

Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saaamana, on Tuesday, had said in its editorial that Goverr insisted on holding final year exams of degree students, but Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray rejected it, showing " spine Thackerays are kwn for".

READ | 33 teams deployed in Maharashtra, Gujarat in view of 'Nisarga': NDRF DG

(With ncy inputs)