HC stays verdict of single bench, allows conduct of BTech first and third semester examinations

KOCHI: The division bench of the high court stayed the verdict of the single bench canceling the BTech first and third semester examinations conducted by the Technical University. An interim order of a division bench comprising Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chali directed that the examinations be conducted as per the earlier schedule. The examinations scheduled to be held yesterday were postponed following the verdict of the single bench. These examinations can be conducted by issuing a new notification.

The single bench had yesterday canceled the exams on a petition filed by some BTech students questioning the conduct of BTech first and third semester exams offline without following the UGC guidelines. It was also told to prepare a new schedule and conduct the examination following the UGC instructions. The Division Bench considered the appeal filed by the Vice Chancellor of the Technical University. The appeal stated that the UGC had not specified that the examination should not be conducted offline and that the examination could be conducted online and offline depending on the circumstances. The single bench had said that the first and third semester examinations could be conducted in the same manner in view of the fact that B Tech conducted the eighth semester examination online. However, the university argued that the online exam could not be said to be flawless and that it would take a year to develop the software to conduct such an exam. In view of this, the judgment of the single bench was stayed.