DU's responsibility to arrange scribes for specially abled students: HC

New Delhi, July 30 The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed Delhi University to clarify its position with respect to the arrangement of scribes for visually-impaired students.

"It is the responsibility of DU to make available scribes for visually handicapped students otherwise the whole process of online OBE would be a mockery for the said students," said a division bench of the high court presided by Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad.

The high court also expressed displeasure over the "mismatch" that arose due to the contradictory statements from Delhi University and the CSC Academy over who will provide the scribes. "There is complete mismatch of statements made by the two sides. There is complete contradiction," the bench said.

While DU said that scribes will be made available to visually impaired students by the CSC centre, the other side submitted that it was not their duty to arrange for scribes adding that they do not have such writers at the centres.

"Why are you (DU) giving wrong hope to students that everything is available at CSE centres. Why are you misrepresenting them," the bench said.

The court which was hearing the matter through video conferencing, said that if the controversy is not resolved then "the whole process of online OBE would be a mockery for the PWD students."

Appearing for the varsity, senior advocate Sachin Dutta said that it was not mandatory for the students to appear in online OBE and they can give the physical exams later in September. It is only in the interest of students that the online exams are being conducted, he added.

Noting these submissions, the court said that the varsity was closing the right of such students through the online mode by not providing them adequate facilities.

The bench said the university was closing PwD students' right to appear through the online mode by not providing them proper facilities including scribes.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions in connection with the online OBE examination being conducted by the central varsity.

On the previous date of hearing, the bench had said, "This is how you're concerned about the career and future of the final year students?"

Earlier while considering the petition filed by NSUI Delhi chief Akshay Lakra, who challenged the legality of these examinations, the bench said, "This is not the time for legality, it is the time for practical solution."

The plea has alleged that DU has flouted the laws as laid down under the applicable statutes and deliberately overlooked the Academic Council and Executive Council and grievances/representation raised by the esteemed members of the Academic Council and Executive Council while issuing the said notifications.

"When there is pandemic situation which is gripping the whole world and practical solutions are needed to save the careers of the students, you'll get into the technicality," the bench said while posting the matter for further hearing in the first week of August.

Initially, the varsity had announced that the online Open Book Examination (OBE) would commence from July 1, which was later postponed by the varsity to July 10 and now again postponed till August 15 without giving a specific date when they would take place.

( With inputs from IANS )