By Rupali Gupta-
On Monday, The SC has postponed the hearing on the UGC till 14th August. And asked the UGC to respond the affidavit filed by Delhi and Maharashtra goverment in which they are asking to cancel the final year exams due to global pandemic Covid-19. And UGC also need to answer whether Disaster Management Act has overruled the UGC guidelines for the final year exams.
Three judge bench comprised Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah looking after this matter. The Delhi and Maharashtra goverment is on that exams should be cancelled and UGC is on that exams should be conducted till 30th September.
Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, who representing 31 students challenged the legal validity of UGC guidelines and said,
“Delhi and Maharashtra were asked to reply but our concern is not the states reply but the legality of the UGC guidelines”.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in defence of UGC stated,
“the replies by Maharashtra and Delhi is contrary to the UGC guidelines. When UGC is the only body to confer degrees how can states cancel exams and expect UGC to confer degree?”
Now, SC granted time to UGC for answering all the questions and matter will hear on 14th August and most probably on the same date decision to be passed. Till then SG Mehta asked the students of final year must continue to prepare for their exams.