The Kerala High Court permitted the Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) to conduct offline examinations for the students in the 6th semester provided that it strictly adhered to the Covid protocol. 28 sixth semester students of the KTU had filed a plea seeking cancellation of the offline exams scheduled by the university on the ground that it violated UGC guidelines.
The Single Bench of Justice Anu Sivaraman noted that there was no violation of the guidelines as the same were not binding on the university. The Court held that guidelines with regard to the conduct of intermediate semester assessments are specifically made subject to the directives issued by the apex statutory body or council concerned and therefore, dismissed the petition. The Court said “It is made clear that the examinations shall be conducted strictly following the Covid protocol and the case of students unable to attend the examinations due to Covid related reasons shall be considered appropriately by the University.“
