[Students vs UGC] Maharashtra Students' Union Supports State Disaster Management Authority's Decision To Cancel Exams; Bats For State Autonomy In Holding Exams

The Petitioner organization stands by the decision of theMaharashtra Government of not holding final year examinations of both professional and non-professional courses in the state, amid the pandemic.

It is contended that decision of the State's Disaster Management Authority shall prevail over all Central and State Acts, including the Universities Grant Commission Act, 1956, as it is a special law.

"Guidelines dated 29.04.2020 or the revised guidelines dated 06.07.2020 issued by the University Grants Commission are neither mandatory nor binding on the State Authority set up under Section 14 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. In case of a conflict between laws made either by the Parliament and/or State Legislature and the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the latter shall prevail in accordance with the provisions of Section 72 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005," the Petitioner has submitted.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had permitted the conduct of exams by Universities and Institutions vide notification dated July 6, 2020 and had ordered the Universities to compulsorily conduct examination of final year students as per UGC guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure.

In furtherance of the aforementioned notification, UGC has issued revised guidelines for University examination for terminal semester students whereby it instructed Universities to conduct exams in offline (pen & paper)/ online/ blended (offline + online) mode.

The decision has been challenged before the Top Court, as violative of students' right to health and life.

In its affidavit, UGC had stated that the direction to hold final year examinations by September 30 was issued to "protect the academic future of students". It further stated that conducting examinations for final year students is necessary to test them on "specialized elective courses" studied by them during the terminal year.

Responding to this submission, the Petitioner-organization through Advocate Mohini Priya has stated that final examination of students of Higher and Technical Education does not carry any special weightage or decisive value as now, the evaluation is done on a "cumulative assessment of all semesters" in a degree course.

They have contended that ever since introduction of "Semester system" and the "Choice based Credit system" in the year 2009, modules taken by students are assessed immediately upon completion of required academic work as a part of "continuous assessment".

Other grounds taken by the Petitioner include:

Section 12 of the UGC Act casts a general duty on the Commission to consult State Governments

Section 12 of the UGC Act stipulates that it shall be the general duty of the Commission to take, in consultation with the Universities or "other bodies concerned", all such steps as it may think fit for promotion and co-ordination of education and for determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in Universities.

The Petitioner has contended that since the words "other bodies" is not defined in the Act, the same has to be interpreted comprehensively and widely.

It is stated that "other bodies" would certainly include the State Authority and/or State Government. On this note it is submitted,

"Admittedly while taking the decision of holding examinations, the UGC did not consult either the State Authority and/or the State Government and hence in my humble submission, such decision on part of UGC to hold examinations is neither mandatory nor binding on the State Governments."

Power to take decisions regarding the conduct of examinations rests upon the respective State Universities

The Petitioner-organization has contended that the power to take decisions regarding the conduct of examinations and conferring degrees rests upon the respective State Universities and not upon the UGC.

Taking a comprehensive of view of the provisions of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, the Petitioner has submitted,

"the power to take decisions regarding conduct of examinations and conferring of degrees rests with the respective State Universities, and as such the UGC does not have the authority to grant/withold degrees of students, when the State Governments and Vice Chancellors of Universities have after considering all the exigencies of the current situation made a unanimous decision to confer degrees without holding the final year examinations."

It is argued that the UGC is concerned with the "standards of education" and the State Government's decision regarding non-conduct of final exams amid a national health crisis cannot in the remotest manner be considered as an impediment on the same.

The matter is slated to be heard on August 14, 2020.

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