Maharashtra: Aaditya Thackeray moves SC for cancellation of final year exams

Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray has filed a petition before Supreme Court challenging the decision of University Grants Commission (UGC) to conduct final year examinations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Yuva Sena secretary Varun Sardesai said, the petition filed by him was admitted on Saturday.

The Yuva Sena has demanded all states be given the right to take an appropriate decision based on the prevailing situation in their respective areas.

The state government has already cancelled the final year/final semester examinations for professional and non- professional courses.

"The number of COVID-19 cases has been steadily on the rise and there has been no flattening of the virus curve. Many states and cities have been placed under lockdown again. Even the WHO said tht large gatherings should not be held," Sardesai said.

Besides Maharashtra, seven other states have also cancelled the final year exams, he said.

Referring to the University Grant Commission (UGC)'s circular asking states to conduct the final year exams, Sardesai said it was impossible to do so amid apprehensions about the spread of infection in state like Maharashtra which has 10 lakh students.

The state has reported 2,92,589 coronvirus positive cases, including 99,164 in Mumbai, as on July 17.

Sardesai claimed that the Yuva Sena had obtained more than two lakh signatures from the students seeking cancellation of exams during an online campaign.

"Yuva Sena under leadership of Aaditya Thackeray wrote letters to the UGC and Union HRD ministry to highlight the issue but has got no response," he added.

Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray files a petition before Supreme Court challenging the decision of University Grants Commission (UGC) to conduct final year examinations. Court has not yet admitted the petition for hearing. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/DBv2gI20j2

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2020