State Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has taken a strong objection to Maharashtra government’s proposal to skip the examination for final semester students. He has opined that the Universities not holding the exams amounts to a breach of Maharashtra Public Universities Act. The Governor also observed that receiving degrees by students without undertaking any kind of examinations would have an adverse impact on their higher studies, graduation and employability options. Koshyari was not apprised by Samant before recommending the cancellation of final year examinations to the UGC. The Governor has asked CM Uddhav Thackeray to issue “suitable” instructions to Minister Uday Samant for his “unwarranted intervention”.
As per the notification released by Mumbai University, the examinations for final year student were to be conducted from July 1 to 30, 2020. All other students in the university will be promoted on the basis of internal assessments and assignments. This decision was taken in accordance to the guidelines issued by UGC to all the universities in the country. In response to this, students from Mumbai University launched an online petition to cancel the examinations as is the case for every other semester and course in the university.
In response to this, state Minister of Higher and Technical Education Uday Samant wrote to University Grant’s Commission recommending it to skip examination of final year students. However, a final decision in this regard would be taken after detailed consultations with vice-chancellors and other stakeholders, he further added. The common entrance test (CET) will now be conducted at tehsil or block level by maintaining social distancing and taking other precautions.