The Karnataka high court ordered on Friday, January 22, 2021 that Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) can go ahead with offline semester examinations. The state court disposed of the petition filed by 120 students seeking directions to hold online exams for those who are unable to appear physically due to the pandemic.

The students’ grievance was that if offline mode is adopted, most of them would have to come to Bengaluru to write the exam. They had challenged the December 9 notification issued by VTU.

Justice R Devdas asked the VTU to follow the SOP issued by the Karnataka government and  by the university. All  the affiliate colleges have been asked to do the same. Further, on the first date of hearing, the court had declined to intervene in the matter.

Besides, the judge pointed out that the examination for selecting civil and district judges had been conducted only through offline mode.

VTU stated that conducting online exams is technically impracticable and the university would take all precautions and adhere to the state government’s SOP.

The university informed the court that technical/ expert opinion was taken before deciding to hold offline examinations.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, January 20, Karnataka’s primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar said that classes would be conducted even during summer vacation (April-May) for schools and pre-university colleges, which have reopened in the state after a nine-month closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: Times of India

Also read: 

Karnataka: SSLC exam in June, no summer vacation

Submit action plan for NAAC accreditation in 15 days: Karnataka Dy CM

Maharashtra Class 10 & 12 board exams to be held in April-May