Despite the pandemic and the existing social distancing norms, the teachers and students of the University of Delhi have been bravely raising their voice against the university's decision to conduct online open-book examinations for the final year students. They conducted Twitter storms, wrote to the authorities and even moved court. Undoubtedly, they were keenly waiting for the Delhi High Court to pronounce its judgment on the issue on Friday.
However, when the court ruled against them, giving a nod to the university, they were unsurprisingly disappointed. "This is an outright violation of the right to equality. Sanctity of examinations is still not addressed," says Astha, a student. "But after the MHA intervention, we sort of expected that the HC won't go against it. The faith of students in the judiciary is completely shattered," she says.
Pallavi Raj, a student who was instrumental in forming a committee to exclusively fight the OBE too expressed her disappointment. "This is so disheartening to hear that the university is so reluctant to consider the plea of students who fought on behalf of the majority of the students. The conduction of the exams would not reduce the existing problems and the one who is not able to give the exam have to give it later in September! Is it not a gross abrogation of their Right to livelihood? " she asks.
Even though the ABVP-dominated DUSU kept mum on the issue and the judgment, its Secretary Ashish Lamba, the sole NSUI representative was quick to react. "NSUI has always objected to the OBE. The university was unsuccessful in conducting the mock exams properly. How do we then expect them to conduct the final exams online?" he asks. Students had previously told us that the website frequently crashed during the mock tests. The DU Teachers' Association too said that the judgment was rather 'sad'.
