University exams: After UGC order, Haryana to consult VCs

SEPT DEADLINE

University exams: After UGC order, Haryana to consult VCs

Team TOI

Chandigarh:  08.07.2020

The Haryana higher education department on Tuesday announced to take a call on exams of terminal years of various courses after consulting vice-chancellors and other stakeholders. The announcement came after a communication by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to all universities to mandatorily hold exams of terminal year in September.

Last month, succumbing to pressure from student organisations, including National Students Union of India (NSUI), INSO, and a union affiliated with Indian National Lok Dal, the government had cancelled terminal exams. NSUI had even moved the Punjab and Haryana high court after the higher education department announced to conduct exams of all classes in July. Later, the department had announced to hold exams only for students of terminal classes. This too was challenged and the government ten announced to do away with exams. “We have received the communication. We will consult vice-chancellors and take a final call accordingly,” said

Ankur Gupta, the principal secretary and financial commissioner (higher education).

NSUI Haryana president Divyanshu Budhiraja said, “In this situation (when there is spike in Covid-19 cases in the state), the amended UGC guidelines are akin to mental harrasment of students. When MLAs, MPs and bureaucrats are not feeling safe and not even suggesting to open Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state legislative assemblies, why is the government playing with the health of students?” He said the Haryana government should stand by its decision to not conduct exams.

ABVP state general secretary Sunil Jaglan said, “We welcome the order as exams are the only way to find out deserving candidates. But still they should be conducted after we get a relief from this pandemic,” he said. In Hisar, GJUST vicechancellor Professor Tankeshwar Kumar said, “The UGC has issued a guideline, not an order. Whether to hold exams or not, it will be decided only after the state government’s takes a decision,” he said.

Sirsa based Chaudhary Devi Lal University vice-chancellor professor R B Solanki also added that the university would abide by the the state government’s decision. On the same lines, Maharishi Dayanand University in Rohtak would go by the state government directions on conducting exams.