New Delhi, Aug 28 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday said states and universities will not be allowed to promote students without holding final term examinations by September 30.
However, the top court gave states the discretion to approach the UGC for an extension of the deadline of final year exams.
An Apex Court bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subshash Reddy, and MR Shah said that the decision taken by Maharashtra government to cancel exams amid the pandemic under the Disaster Management Act shall prevail.
The University Grants Commission (UGC), in its revised guidelines, mandated that all final year tests be conducted following the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
Senior Counsels including Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Shyam Divan, and Arvind Datar argued on behalf of the students to cancel the final year examinations citing the rising spread of novel coronavirus pandemic.
But the top court ruled that "internal assessments will not suffice."
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on behalf of UGC, said the decision was for the "benefit of students" as the universities have to start admissions to postgraduate courses.
The UGC had said that decisions taken by some states to cancel the tests directly affect standards of higher education.
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