The Centre told Supreme Court on Thursday that it has given University Grants Commission (UGC) the permission to conduct university exams. The UGC had asked universities to conduct the final year examination before September 30 and the Home Ministry said that the decision was taken in the academic interest of the students.

A press release issued by the Ministry said, “The final term examinations are to be compulsorily conducted as per the UGC guidelines on examinations and academic calendar for the universities; and as per the Standard Operating Procedure approved by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.”

The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear on the matter regarding the UGC university exams on August 14 but the pleas have been adjourned till August 18. On Friday, the case was heard by a three judge bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah. 

During the hearing, the counsels for the petitioners presented their case to the top Court today with Dr. AM Singhvi opening the arguments and presented a case that stressed on the Right of Life. He added that the NDMA is applicable to every district and the pandemic is a global concern and presents ‘special scenarios’ that have prohibited the right to travel.

Shyam Diwan, who represented Yuva Sena argued on the Right to Life and also the MHA guidelines which have given the states the right to enforce NDMA in stricter measure but not in a diluted form. He further pointed out that the guidelines are advisory in nature and the universities are free to choose and opt for the actual course of action.

On the question whether DM Act overrides UGC guidelines, Divan argued that “Power of the authorities is not disputed but once the DM Act is invoked in a disaster condition and the right to life has been elevated, then the authorities cannot come in and exert power to dilute the provisions.”

He also raised that when the Covid-19 cases were less, the UGC university exams were postponed and now that the cases have risen to lakhs, the exams are being conducted. 

Source: Times Now

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