The Delhi High court on Monday directed Delhi University to conduct physical examinations for final year undergraduate students from 14 September.
The court further directed Delhi University to verify the number of leftover persons with disabilities (PWD) category students and students in the said category who would wish to sit for the physical examination again though they may have taken the online open book mode of examination, for arriving at an assessment and for working out the modalities of a place of stay and transportation from where they are presently staying to Delhi, to sit for the physical examinations.
“We are of the opinion that the University should expedite conducting physical examinations so that the entire process can be over at the earliest. Though we are informed that at least two weeks are required after the on- line examinations are over on 31.08.2020, for the University to gear up, we are of the opinion that physical examinations should commence by 08.09.2020. However, since Mr. Sachin Dutta, Senior Advocate pleads that that would be too shorter a time and there is immense pressure on the available manpower, Delhi University is directed to commence the physical examinations by 14.09.2020.”
While asking the Delhi University to conduct the physical examinations by September 14, the Division Bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad has further directed the Delhi University to submit details about how many students submitted their answer sheets for online Open Book Exams though emails so that a clear picture can be ascertained about the efficacy of the entire process.
In today’s proceedings, the Delhi University informed the court that out of 38058 students who were expected to take the exams on August 10, 36663 students registered and 33957 students actually uploaded the answer sheets on the portal.
For the PwD category, 358 students were expected to take the exams, out of which 308 registered and 258 students actually attempted the exam.
‘These figures do not include those students who sent their answer sheets through email and did not upload them on the portal’
DU informed the court.
Appearing on the behalf of the Grievance Redressal Committee, Mr BB Gupta informed the court that the Delhi University did not share the passwords of the grievance emails sent by the students.
It was further informed by Mr Gupta, that despite the Committee having its meeting on the Indepence Day as well, the Delhi University did not share the details of the Grievance Officers with the Committee.
The court expressed its disappointment with the fact that the Grievance Redressal Committee was not allowed to function properly despite the orders of the court. The court pulled up the University and said:
‘Why are you maintaining so much secrecy around the passwords? Why are you frustrating the cause of the Grievance Redressal Committee? Should we issue contempt notice to your officers?’
When the court directed the Delhi University to immediately send the details of the Grievance Officers to the Committee, the same was done during the course of the proceedings.
Petitioner Prateek Sharma also informed the court that many students are unable to apply for Post Graduate courses as the University has not provided them with mark sheets for the fifth semester. The court was also informed that many other Universities are demanding provisional certificates from students who are seeking admissions in Post Graduate courses.
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For students applying to Universities abroad, the court directed the Delhi University to make an Email ID for students who have received provisional admission in foreign universities but can’t submit provisional certificates due to delay in declaration of results.
These students will send a mail to the said ID indicating their cause, and subsequently, the University will send ‘Letter of Request’ to all these foreign Universities requesting them to postpone the requirement of submitting provisional certificates in light of delay caused in declaration of results.
