A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan also issued notices to the University Grants Commission (UGC), Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, and Amity University at Noida for responses on a petition filed by students of even semesters.

 

The court will now hear the matter on November 12.

 

The petition filed through advocate Jahnvi Sharma challenged a September 30 notifications issued by respondent whereby it directed that Theory examinations for regular, reappear, supplementary, and mercy qua intermediate even semesters for the two courses shall be held in the physical mode w.e.f. October 27, 2020.

 

"A subsequent notification issued the date sheet while a notification dated October 22 rescheduled the exams from November 2. The same are violative of guidelines of the UGC and the Ministry of Home Affairs qua conduct of examinations," the petition said.

 

The petitioner has urged the court to set aside the impugned notifications.

 

"... in the alternative in the event that physical examination are to be conducted as envisaged, the same be conducted within a reasonable period after restoration of normalcy and reopening and functioning of university and its colleges after lifting of the lockdown and not mandatorily within one month thereof as envisaged in the said documents," the petitioner pleaded.

 

The petitioners said that they were undertaking studies through online and distance learning modes since COVID-19 outbreak.