No final decision on UGC final-year exams, SC adjourns matter till August 18

The Supreme Court today heard the pleas against the UGC guidelines making it mandatory for final year exams to be held by September 30 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. After several hearings on the matter, the final decision was expected to be out today. But it has been adjourned to August 18.

Thousands of college and university students all over India are waiting for a final word from Supreme Court. They have been repeatedly asked to continue with their exam preparation since no final decision regarding the exams has been taken



yet.

The top court bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan had granted time to the UGC to file responses to the affidavits filed by Maharashtra and Delhi in the matter. Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, appearing for some of the petitioners, said that the academic interest of a few students cannot outweigh the right to health and life of lakhs of students. "MHA/UGC have overlooked alarming COVID-19 crisis, poor health infrastructure and deadly flood. Their decision to conduct final exam is illegal and unconstitutional. SC will set it aside," he said.