HC allows HP University to conduct final-semester UG exams from August 19

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 18

While the confusion confounded by the late night decision of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) to postpone the final-semester undergraduate examinations slated for Tuesday caused great inconvenience to a section of students who reached the centres, the Himachal Pradesh High court accepted the review petition of the university paving way for continuing with examination schedule.

Consequently, all examinations would be held as per schedule from tomorrow (August 19) while the next date for today’s examination would be announced soon, said Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University, Sikander Kumar.

The HPU had filed an application to review the decision and after hearing both the sides, the court dismissed the petition filed by Yaseen Mohd contending therein that the Central government has not allowed opening of schools and colleges till date and despite that the HPU has issued schedule for final examination of UG classes and permitted the HPU to go ahead with the examinations, he added.

Confusion was created as the Education Minister Gobind Thakur emphatically said examinations would continue but government realised that it could tantamount to contempt of court and asked the university to file the review petition and postpone the examinations slated for today.

Uncertainty loomed large as the students were not aware that examinations would be held today and frantic efforts were made to inform them about postponement of examinations. The colleges posted the decision on their respective Facebook page and colleges sites and used other means to inform the students.

However, still a section of students reached the examination centres and faced avoidable inconvenience. Moreover, the students who have come from distant places for taking exams would have to prolong their stay till the postponed examinations are not conducted, said an academician.

The Education Minister also said the review petition of the university against orders of August 14, asking the university “not to proceed with examination schedule”, has been accepted by the High Court and there is no stay from the apex court. As such the examinations would be conducted as scheduled from tomorrow and all precautions like social distancing, sanitisation and wearing of masks would be taken.

HPU in dock for communication gap

The HPU decided to postpone the exam to be held today at 10 pm last night and the “laidback” approach of the university authorities as well as the government has not gone well with the students and their wards who questioned the lack of coordination and demanded that accountability should be fixed and action be taken against person responsible for communication gap.

The office-bearers of Himachal Government College Teachers’ Association (HGCTA) maintained that they had urged the university authorities to go ahead with examinations after August 28 once there is clarity but their suggestion was not accepted.