SC stops UGC from releasing academic calendar for 2020-21
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New Delhi: A day after University Grants Commission approved the academic calendar guidelines, for first year undergraduate and post graduate students for the academic session 2020-21, the Supreme Court has prevented its release till Thursday.
The apex court on Tuesday asked the Commission to not release the calendar for the new academic calendar till September 24, citing the extraordinary situation of the coronavirus pandemic and directed the UGC to work in tandem with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which had decided to conduct compartment examination for students of classes X and XII in September.
A Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna gave the instruction while considering a plea of the students who are challenging the decision to conduct compartment examination in September. The petitioners submitted that if admissions to colleges are over by the time the results are announced by the boards, the students appearing these exams would miss admission for this academic year.
As per the UGC approved guidelines, academic session 2020-21 may commence from November 1 for first year students. It also suggested that merit or entrance-based admissions for these students should complete by October end and the remaining vacant seats should by filled up by November 30.
On Tuesday, Justice AM Khanwilkar told the UGC's counsel not to release the academic calendar till Thursday.
"Don't release the academic calendar till Thursday. Let CBSE inform us and then you both coordinate. Two lakh students is not a small number and we have to work out a solution in this exceptional year. You need to work in tandem with CBSE," the Justice told.
CBSE's counsel, Advocate Rupesh Kumar submitted that since the papers are checked in 16 regional centres, it would take three to four weeks to declare the results.
The case will now be heard again on September 24, when the CBSE is likely to inform the Court when would it declare the results for the compartment exams.