The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the UGC decision to hold final year exams by 30 September. “The students cannot be promoted without writing the final year or terminal semester examinations,”’ said the apex court.
The top court said that the decision of the state/State Disaster Management Authority to promote the students in the final year/terminal semester on the basis of previous performance and internal assessment being beyond the jurisdiction of Disaster Management Act,2005 has to give way to the guidelines of UGC dated 6 July directing to hold examination of final year/ terminal. The state and university cannot promote the students in the final year/ terminal semester without holding final year/terminal examination.
Sc added, “If any State/ Union Territory in exercise of jurisdiction under Disaster Management Act, 2005 has taken a decision that it is not possible to conduct the final year/terminal semester examination by 30Sep , we grant liberty to such State/ Union Territory to make an application to the University Grants Commission for extending deadline of 30 Sep for that State/Union Territory which shall be considered by UGC and rescheduled date be communicated to such State/Union Territory at the earliest.”
Earlier, the court had reserved its judgement on 18 August and had said it will also decide whether the states will have power under the Disaster Management Act to defer final examination till situation normalises.