According to sources, The Supreme Court of India would be resuming the hearing on the UGC Guidelines case today, August 18, 2020. It has been stated that the court would gather to continue hearing pleas challenging the final-year examination guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission, or UGC.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of 31 students from Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, and other states have demanded that final year students be promoted on the basis of their past performance as opposed to the UGC guidelines that mandate final year examinations by September-end.

During the last hearing on August 14, Advocate Alakh Alok argued for the students to cancel the examinations in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

Lead Counsel, Abhishek Manu Singhvi had pointed out that there was a great disparity of students that would be appearing for the examination. Many students would have to travel for the exams, which poses a direct risk in these situations of the pandemic. Adding further, Singhvi pointed out that classes were disrupted – so how can exams be conducted? ‘UGC guidelines violate Article 14 under the aspect of manifest arbitrariness’, Singhvi added. (Source : ndtv)