Degrees invalid if no exams held: UGC

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, August 10

The Univesity Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday questioned before the Supreme Court the decisions taken by governments of Maharashtra and and Delhi to cancel final-year examinations of state universities in view of Covid-19, saying they went against the rules.

“Not holding examinations will not be in students’ interest as their degrees may not be recognised if the states would act unilaterally and cancel final-year examinations in violation of UGC norms,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the UGC, told a Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan.

Opposing the decisions of Delhi and Maharashtra Governments to cancel final-year examinations, Mehta argued that the UGC was the only body that could prescribe rules for conferring a degree and the state governments could not change the rules. The top court had earlier already refused to stay the UGC’s decision.

As Mehta said UGC would like to respond to the affidavits filed by Delhi and Maharashtra, the Bench posted the petitions challenging the UGC’s directive to conduct university examinations by September 30 for further hearing on August 14.

Petitioners contended the July 6 UGC guideline for holding final-year examinations were illegal.