Thread by @barandbench

《LIVE UPDATES FROM SUPREME COURT: UGC HEARING》

A Justice Ashok Bhushan led bench of the Supreme Court to shortly hear a batch of pleas challenging the UGC Guidelines mandating completion of final year exams by universities before Sept 30

#SupremeCourt

The crucial hearing comes after the top court issued notice to @ugc_india and sought to know if health concerns raised by students apprehensive of appearing in the exams amid #COVID19 is misplaced.

@advocate_alakh @anubhavsinha
#cancelfinalyearexams #examsincovidasucide

.@ugc_india has maintained that it would not budge from its September 30 deadline to conduct exams as they have given universities flexibiltiy to conduct exams in online, offline or blended mode.

barandbench.com/news/ugc-stick…

#UGCGuidelines #UgcAgainstStudents

In a rebuttal to the UGC's reply, the lead petitioner in the case (31 students from all over India) have stated that UGC's reply ignores hassles of students and would make them face losses in employment options & admission opportunities

barandbench.com/news/ugc-has-s…

The petitioners demand cancellation of exams and award of degrees and marksheets on the basis of internal marks and past assessment

#Covid19
#examscancelled
#31StudentsInSCForJustice
#31studentsagainstugc

The lead petition in the case was filed by @anubha1812 and would be argued by @advocate_alakh

Senior Adv Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi to appear for final year law student Yash Dubey @DrAMSinghvi

Senior Adv Shyam Divan to appear for Yuvasena chief Aditya Thackeray @AUThackeray

《HEARING BEGINS》

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi submits for final year law student Yash Dubey. @DrAMSinghvi

Singhvi: There are 16 lakh cases of COVID19 now.

Singhvi: The reply by @ugc_india has been filed without any application of mind. Look at the earlier guidelines and look at the ones issued on July 6.

Supreme Court three-judge judge bench takes time to assimilate all the rejoinders filed in the case

#ugc_cancel_exam
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

Dr Singhvi: The first guideline was 3 months ago by UGC on April 22.

SC passes over the case as rejoinders filed by petitioners not in order.

#ugc_cancel_exam
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

《Hearing resumes》

Adv Alakh Alok Srivastava submits that 31 petitioners in the case are students. Today more than 25,000 covid19 case has been recorded. Its a highest single day spike @advocate_alakh

#ugc_cancel_exam
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

Dr Singhvi submits: The guidelines were reversed in July.

Justice Bhushan: UGC can always revisit guidelines

Singhvi: this revisting was arbitrary.

#StudentsInSCForJustice
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

Singhvi: Some of the universities lack basic IT infrastructure to conduct these online exams. It is not feasible to adopt the online mode of exam uniformly

SC: Guidelines provide both online and offline

#StudentsInSCForJustice
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

Singhvi: Now this is striking.. the new guidelines was to make it more difficult for students amid COVID19

#StudentsInSCForJustice
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

Singhvi: This optional exam is problematic. If someone cannot appear in the exam and given a later option it will create chaos!

SC: But it is for the benefit of the students.

#StudentsInSCForJustice
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

SC: Are decisions by the state disaster management committee on the record?

Singhvi: I will place them on record.

#StudentsInSCForJustice
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

Singhvi: Many universities have been converted into COVID-19 centers. This is there in Maharashtra and West Bengal. Bar Council too has cancelled the exams. The July 6 guidelines ignores the MHA guidelines too.

#StudentsInSCForJustice
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

Singhvi: Heavens will not fall if exams are cancelled.

SC: MHA guidelines were of July 20. How can July 6 guidelines take them into account? The purpose of that guideline by MHA did not relate to exams

#StudentsInSCForJustice
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

Singhvi: Section 62 of NDMA states that state govt can take decisions in this regard and section 72 gives an overriding effect to this.

SC: Who appears for state of Maharashtra?

Adv Sachin Patil for State of Maharashtra: I will place on record our reply

Justice Bhushan: We will grant you time. Let the decision taken by State disaster management committee of Maharashtra file a reply.

Supreme Court adjounrs the case till August 10.

#StudentsInSCForJustice
#finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide

SC: (To SG Mehta) please make stand of MHA clear.

SG: We will. By Monday latest. Nobody should be under the impression that they cannot prepare. Students should prepare for the exam.

SC: We have not passed any interim order

#StudentsInSCForJustice
#finalyearexams

SC: Affidavits to be filed by August 7. Rejoinders after a day post August 7. Matter to be heard next on August 10

.@advocate_alakh requests SC to pass an interim order as many students are stuck in flood affected areas of Bihar and Assam. Alakh: How will they travel My Lord?

SC: We are not passing any interim orders now. Matter on August 10.

#StudentsInSCForJustice
#UGCGuidelines

End.

UGC Hearing Summary in Supreme Court:

#StudentsInSCForJustice #StudentsInSCAgainstUGC @advocate_alakh @anubha1812 #finalyearexams
#ExamsInCovidASuicide #SupremeCourt

Breaking:UGC Guidelines on Final Year Exams: Supreme Court adjourns matter to August 10, asks MHA to make its stand clear

#StudentsInSCForJustice #StudentsInSCAgainstUGC @advocate_alakh @anubha1812 #finalyearexams
barandbench.com/news/ugc-guide…