New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today permitted Delhi University to conduct Open Book Exams (OBE) – online and offline – in compliance with directions passed by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Justice Pratibha M Singh passed the order while hearing a petition filed by students of Delhi University.
The petitioners had challenged the UGC guidelines mandating the conduct of final year University examinations, stating that Open Book Examination was in violation of Articles 14, 16 and 21 of the Indian Constitution.
Advocate Akash Sinha, for the petitioners, argued that Open Book Exam was discriminatory, since many students lacked adequate infrastructure, while others were still trapped in quarantine zones.
However, Senior Advocate Sachin Dutta and advocate M Rupal, for the UGC, submitted that Open Book Exams did not require technical infrastructure and was the most appropriate method for conducting examinations.
The bench has issued the following directions to Delhi University in compliance with UGC directions:
· Question paper to be uploaded on the website and mailed to every student.
· An extra hour to be given to the students to upload the answer sheet.
· Auto generated confirmation email to be sent to the students after receipt of answer sheets.
· Details of Nodal Officer, Central Email Id to be published.
· Examination Centers to be notified by the Common Services Centre at the end of the day.
· Grievance officer to address grievances raised by students.
· Grievance committee reconstituted and headed by Justice (retd) Pratibha Rani and to function till OBE continues.
· OBE results to be published in a short period
Read Also: Provide Reading Material For Visually Impaired: Delhi HC Directs DU
The exams have been scheduled to begin from August 10.
Read the judgement here;
PMS07082020CW39462020_1647545– India Legal Bureau