Haryana Government to assess situation, may reschedule university exams

Geetanjali Gayatri

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 26

Despite having issued an examination schedule for universities, the government will assess the situation and reschedule them, if need be.

This assurance was given by Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar during the monsoon session of the House today after Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal expressed concern over exams at a time when Covid cases were on the rise.

“On the one hand, we are reducing the monsoon session to just one sitting due to Covid even after we all have been tested while on the other, we expect children to take exams. The government should go right up to the Supreme Court to contest taking of exams,” she said.

Gujjar replied that the government would take all precautions while conducting exams to ensure safety of students. “Their years of education will go waste if we pass them without exams and issue them a degree. When they apply for a job, it will always be seen as a ‘Covid degree’, which does not evaluate the worth of candidates.”

Later, he said: “We have merely issued the schedule. It can be reconsidered, just like we reduced the House sitting after assessing the situation.”

Earlier, Congress MLAs demanded that the session should not be cut short since there were many issues. However, Gujjar said Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda had agreed to reducing the session to a day since the CM, Speaker and nine MLAs were infected.

Abhay Chautala of the INLD said he gave 12 calling attention motions. “Only two have been accepted. If I am not satisfied with the replies, I should be allowed supplementary questions,” he said.

Though Hooda accepted that he had agreed to limiting proceedings to a day, he said he was assured that only very urgent matters where court cases were involved would be taken up while the rest of the issues would be deferred.

Deputy Speaker Ranbir Singh Gangwa said 700 persons were on the Assembly premises. “Twelve personnel deployed in the force have tested positive. We’ll only adjourn the session after the sitting and carry forward the business to another day, maybe next month, when the situation improves.”

12 Bills passed

1. Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas (Second Amendment and Validation) Bill
2. Haryana Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill
3. Haryana Rural Development (Amendment) Bill
4. Haryana Management of Civic Amenities and Infrastructure Deficient Municipal Areas (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill
5. Haryana Lifts and Escalators (Amendment) Bill
6. Haryana Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill
7. Haryana Municipal (Amendment) Bill
8. Haryana Fire Service (Amendment) Bill
9. Haryana Municipal Entertainment Duty (Amendment) Bill
10. Haryana Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill
11. Haryana Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill
12. Haryana Appropriation (No. 3) Bill