Mandatory for states to hold final year exams, rules SC

The Supreme Court on Friday said that States and Universities cannot promote students without holding final year exams.

Upholding the UGC decision to hold final year exams, a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said if any state feels they can’t conduct exams by that date, they must approach the UGC for new dates to hold the exam.

This means it is not mandatory for the States and Union Territories to adhere to the UGC circular dated July 6 for holding final term exams by September 30 and that they can fix dates beyond September 30 in consultation with the UGC for holding final term exams.

The apex court had reserved its judgement on August 18 and had said it will also decide whether the States will have power under the Disaster Management Act to defer final examination till the situation normalizes.

The UGC, through an affidavit, had earlier told the Supreme Court that the decision of Delhi and Maharashtra government of cancelling the final term examination will “directly impact the standards of higher education in the country”.

A batch of pleas was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the UGC’s July 6 circular and seeking cancellation of final term examination in view of COVID-19 pandemic.