The Supreme Court on Friday pronounced its verdict on petitions demanding cancellation of final year exams. In its judgment, the apex has upheld the University Grant Commission’s (UGC) decision to conduct exams as directed. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan pronounced the verdict.
Supreme Court Verdict on Final Year Exams
As reported by Bar & Bench, The SC said that states can ask the UGC for extension of the deadline for holding exams which were earlier directed to be September 30.
However, the apex body upheld the Maharashtra Government’s decision to cancel the final year examination. In its statement, the SC observed that the decision by the state of Maharashtra under the DM Act to not hold exams shall prevail.
The apex court also observed that if any State has taken a decision that it is not possible to hold exams, “we grant them the liberty to approach the UGC to seek an extension of the deadline”, reported Bar&Bench.
The SC also observed that it is not compulsory to hold exams before September 30.
On July 6, the UGC had directed universities across the country to hold final year examinations by September 30.
Earlier UGC had maintained that degree cannot be conferred on graduating students without holding final year examinations. However, states and union territories like Delhi, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh still canceled final year University exams.
Solicitor Mehta who appeared on behalf of the UGC had stated that only the statutory body has the power to cancel examinations and not the state government.
Following the UGC exam guidelines, 31 final year students from different universities across the country approached the SC challenging UGC guidelines.
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