Thread by @barandbench

#Breaking: #MadrasHighCourt opines that it appears that the Tamil Nadu govt may not have followed applicable UGC guidelines in cancelling college arrear exams in August 2020 amid #COVID19; suggests that State come up with a Plan B after consulting the UGC.

"Though the relevant notification (Aug 26, 2020) referred to evaluation being carried out on the basis of the guidelines issued by the UGC or AICTE, it appears that AICTE did not agree to the proposal and the UGC guidelines may not have been followed at all."

#MadrasHighCourt

"It is inconceivable that a whole masse of students will be certified to have qualified in a system without having basic knowledge in respect of key aspects thereof."

#MadrasHighCourt

"What appears to have been done by State may be to treat all those who wanted to rewrite their exams as deemed to have passed without conducting any form of test or evaluation. The UGC guidelines did not provide for such a scenario nor is it acceptable to the court."

#MadrasHC

Court has now directed the State to furnish details, University/ college-wise, on the number of students who sought to re-write arrear exams and the number of such students who had passed or failed. Next hearing on April 15.

#MadrasHighCourt

"In the meantime, the State and UGC should put their heads together to suggest any ameliorative measures that may be taken by way of an examination or some other method."

#MadrasHighCourt

No doubt lakhs of students who thought they cleared the course after writing final exam may have to be held back because they did not clear previous papers, but, unqualified persons cannot be certified to have qualified to pursue professional courses or higher studies: #MadrasHC

The UGC and the State should indicate what would serve the interests of the relevant students the best without compromising on the sanctity of the system, notwithstanding the pandemic: #MadrasHighCourt

During the hearing, CJ Sanjib Banerjee orally observed: It sends a completely wrong signal.. the signal appears to be that as long as they have paid the fee and we earned the revenue, they are allowed to pass.

#MadrasHighCourt

Before adjourning the matter for the day, CJ Banerjee added: "There has to be plan B. You may succeed in dislodging our order ultimately. But in the interest of the students, there must be plan B."

#MadrasHighCourt
#ArrearExams