Bombay HC refuses to stay conduct of final year dental exams; says stay would be detrimental to those willing to write exams

Bombay HC refuses to stay conduct of final year dental exams; says stay would be detrimental to those willing to write exams 

"There could be examinees who might be willing and prepared to write the examinations, even physically. Stay of the examinations behind the back of such examinees would be detrimental to their interests", the Court said. 

Lydia Suzanne Thomas

Aug 15, 2020, 9:57 AM IST

The Bombay Court on Friday refused to stay the conduct of examinations for final year students pursuing dental courses in the Maharashtra University of Health Science (MUHS) (Akshay Udaysingh Rajput v. MUHS, Nashik). 

The University shall be at liberty to conduct the examinations as scheduled on August 17 and 25, the Court said, by strictly adhering to social distancing norms and other protocol to prevent the contagion. 

Any examinee willing to write the examination physically would be at liberty to do so, the Bench added. 

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and SP Tavade passed the order refusing to stay the exams, while observing that a stay on the examinations at this stage would prejudice students willing to take the exams. 

"There could be examinees, other than the petitioners, who might be willing and prepared to write the examinations, even physically. Stay of the examinations behind the back of such examinees would be detrimental to their interests." 

Bombay High Court 

The Court rejected the petitioners' prayer for the online conduct of the exams, after taking on record the University's submissions that it had made adequate arrangements for the safe, physically-distanced conduct of the exam. 

Further, the Court opined that allowing the exam's conduct as scheduled, but without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the petitioners, and subject to the result of the writ petition, would sufficiently protect their interests. 

The Court has added that students who are unwilling to appear for physical examinations could set up a "strong case at the final hearing of the writ petition for a direction on the University to hold separate examination", upon which the Court would decide appropriately. 

With this, the Court adjourned the matter. 

Exams amid the Pandemic 

Across India, students are challenging the conduct of examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In the Bombay High Court alone, at least two petitions have been filed which involve a challenge to the University Grants Commission's Guidelines (UGC Guidelines) mandating examinations for final year or terminal semester students by September 30. 

Pleas challenging the UGC Guidelines are being heard in the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court as well. 

A plea challenging the physical conduct of University exams was recently adjourned by the Karnataka High Court with a direction to the VTU to consider if "special chance" exams can be conducted online for those unable to appear for the in-person final exams. 

A petition was also moved in Karnataka High Court to challenge the conduct of intermediate semester examinations from October 5 by the Karnataka State Law University. 

Another recent petition concerned the conduct of the COMEDK entrance exams scheduled for August 19. The Karnataka High Court, however, declined to stay its conduct. 

Apart from this, batches of petitions have been filed seeking a stay on the NEET and JEE college-entry examinations. In July, the Karnataka High Court had given the go-ahead for the conduct of Karnataka's Common Entrance Test (KCET). 

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TN engg students get real with virus, embrace virtual lab tests

TN engg students get real with virus, embrace virtual lab tests

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:16.08.2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it several challenges and some new opportunities too like the resuscitation of virtual labs project of the ministry of human resources development that had remained moribund for almost a decade. Though online classes have started, professional colleges were unable to conduct experiments without opening their labs to students.

The virtual labs project, which allows students to do their experiments remotely by using cloud computing, will also help them access video lectures, demonstrations and reference books. “Virtual labs are like simulators. All engineering experiments except chemical and biotech ones can be done in virtual mode,” said Sandeep Sancheti, vice-chancellor, SRMIST. The labs are essentially graphical front-end working in synchronization with a back-end consisting of a simulation-engine running on a server or actual measurement data or a remotely-triggered experiment. “Virtual labs are safer and better for experimentation. The students are doing experiments individually instead of groups where one or two will do the experiments and others will just measure the readings,” he said.

TESTING TIME: Virtual labs help students to do their experiments remotely by using cloud computing

Virtual experiments can be done 24x7

The virtual experiments can be done 24x7 instead of four or five hours in the regular mode. “Many institutes can come together and offer virtual experiments to their students to make it affordable. There is no limit for the number of attempts and they will get access to highend equipment,” he added.

He further said virtual labs can lead to virtual education and universities. “There are many tools for online classes and exams. If we develop effective virtual labs, it would give final push to establishing virtual universities,” Sancheti said. “We are sensitizing our staff to virtual experiments. We will allow our students to do virtual experiments from next week,” said RM Kishore, vice-chairman, RMK Engineering College.

Students have to do 12 to 15 experiments per lab course in a semester. The virtual lab project will cover most of the experiments.

“A student would get just one chance in a physical lab experiment. He or she can get a chance to do multiple experiments. It is free of cost. Anybody can join and access the website and do the experiments. At present, we are giving it as value-addition,” he added.

“In the present situation when students are not able to come to colleges and do physical experiments, virtual labs would offer them help. These labs can develop the curiosity of students. It will play an important role even after Covid,” said M K Surappa, vice-chancellor, Anna University.

National Institute of Technology, Karnataka in Surathkal is one of the pioneers in setting up virtual labs.

Many TN institutions have already approached the NITK for setting up and accessing virtual labs.

National Institute of Technology, Karnataka in Surathkal is one of the pioneers in setting up virtual labs. Many TN institutions have already approached the NITK for setting up and accessing virtual labs

As e-pass norms ease, vigilance up

As e-pass norms ease, vigilance up

16/08/2020

Staff Reporter

Madurai

Vigilance, monitoring and healthcare facilities will be ramped up in the district, in light of the State Government's announcement granting easier access to e-passes from August 17, said senior officials of the district administration.

District Monitoring Officer B. Chandramohan, said that officials of the health department and the district administration took part in a review meeting on Friday and they discussed the drop in COVID-19 cases and a plan to ensure sustained low positive numbers over the next two weeks. Collector T. G. Vinay said that they will be strengthening district borders at Kottampatti, Vadipatti and Kadavur and screening all those with symptoms.

“Since we will be approving the e-passes the previous day, we will have an approximate idea of the total number of people travelling into the district. We can station as many teams in these checkposts based on the previous day's data,” he said.

A source from the district administration said that currently, they receive close to 3,000 e-pass applications every day and approve roughly 34% of them.

The Collector added that they will continue to intensify fever clinics and encourage those even with cough and cold symptoms to regularly visit the clinics for testing. “We have found that masking and maintaining physical distance is important in containing the spread,” he said.

Deputy Director, Health department, Priya Raj, said that teams will be present at district borders for swab collection. Test results for them will be available within 12 hours, she added.

Home-quarantined advised to buy pulse oximeter, thermal scanner

Home-quarantined advised to buy pulse oximeter, thermal scanner

TNN | Aug 16, 2020, 04.52 AM IST

Thanjavur: District collector M Govinda Rao has instructed Covid-19 positive patients who have opted for home quarantine to have a pulse oximeter and a thermal scanner for their own usage. He also warned medical shops of stringent action if found charging exorbitant prices for the devices.

“People in home quarantine should have one oximeter to monitor their oxygen level being supplied to their brain and a thermal scanner to check body temperature frequently. If they find anything abnormal, they should immediately approach the government hospital for further treatment,” the collector said.

“If anyone is found selling pulse oximeter and thermal scanner at rates higher than the maximum retail price, action will be taken against the concerned medical shops by the district administration,” he warned.

A pulse oximeter costs between Rs 1,800 and Rs 3,000. Few companies are offering up to Rs 2,000 discount on the device. Likewise, a thermal scanner costs between Rs 1,500 and Rs 3,000, sources said.

The district administration has taken various measures to combat the spread of coronavirus in the district. People infected by the virus are sent to isolation wards established in Government Medical College Hospital in Thanjavur for treatment. This apart, three more Covid-19 centres have also been established in Vallam, Annai Engineering College in Kumbakonam, and slum clearance board building in Pattukottai.

As of now, around 100 people are under home quarantine in the district, health officials said.