HC: Need to take a re-look at norms for attendance in colleges, univs

 HC: Need to take a re-look at norms for attendance in colleges, univs

 TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi : Delhi High Court on Wednesday said there was a need to re-look at mandatory attendance norms in colleges and universities as the teaching methods had substantially changed post Covid-19 pandemic. It said the mental health of students, which was also affected, needed to be borne in mind while considering attendance requirements. The role of grievance redressal mechanisms and support systems in educational institutions is required to be streamlined.

 A bench of justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma flagged the issue of mandatory attendance requirements in undergraduate and postgraduate courses while hearing a matter related to the alleged suicide by a student of Amity Law University in 2016. The matter was transferred to Delhi High Court in March 2017 by Supreme Court. Sushant Rohilla, a third-year law student of Amity, had hanged himself at home here on Aug 10, 2 016, after the university allegedly barred him from sitting for the semester exams due to a lack of requisite attendance. 

He left behind a note saying he was a failure and did not wish to live. "In the opinion of this court, the same may require a re-look, especially bearing in mind the teaching methods which have substantially changed post the Covid pandemic,” HC said, referring to mandatory attendance norms.

 "In recent times, it is not unusual for colleges and universities to hold classes and examinations virtually or on online platforms. The issue of mandatory attendance is also a cause for concern in the younger generation, which looks at education in a completely different manner. Education is no longer restricted to classroom teaching and in fact extends to more practical areas," the bench pointed out. "There may be a need for making a distinction in professional and non-professional courses as far as attendance standards are concerned. Global practices followed by legal educational institutions around the world would also need to be studied to see whether mandatory attendance requirements are even needed," the court said, posting the matter for September when it will hear the Centre and National Medical Commission, among others.