The row over conducting final year college exam is showing no signs of conclusion with the University Grants Commission (UGC) saying that its July 6 guidelines were based on recommendations made by experts. The Maharashtra and Delhi governments have refused to hold final year exams in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, however, the UGC has been insisting that states must ensure that exams are conducted.

During a hearing over the matter, the UGC told the Supreme Court on Thursday that final examination is a “crucial step” in a student’s academic career and that states can not say that its directive was ‘not binding’ for states.

The UGC stressed that the guidelines issued by it for holding final year or terminal exams was released after taking into consideration every aspect and consulation with all stakeholders.

On August 10, the UGC had questioned the decisions of Delhi and Maharashtra governments to cancel final year exams of state universities amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying they were against the rules.

The UGC had earlier told the court that as per the report submitted by the expert committee, “terminal semester/final year examinations should be conducted by universities/ institutions by the end of September, 2020 in offline (pen & paper)/ online/ blended (online + offline) mode”.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had informed Supreme Court earlier this week that out of over 800 universities in the country, 209 have completed the examinations while around 390 universities are in the process of conducting exams, PTI reported.