In Brief

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the UGC issued revised guidelines on 06.07.2020 requiring all universities to conduct final year examinations by 30 September 2020. Students, state governments, and teachers' associations challenged these guidelines in multiple writ petitions, arguing they violated fundamental rights and were beyond UGC's authority. The Supreme Court upheld the guidelines as statutory, not merely advisory, and within UGC's competence under Article 66 of List I to set educational standards. The Court held that Article 14 and 21 were not violated given the flexibility of examination modes and health protocols provided. However, the Court recognized that State Disaster Management Authorities could postpone examination deadlines under the Disaster Management Act 2005 if unable to conduct them; yet States cannot independently promote students without examinations. States must either conduct examinations or seek deadline extensions from the UGC.

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