Mamata requests PM Modi to re-examine UGC's move to conduct examinations amid Covid-19

"Though UGC vide its earlier guidelines dated 29.04.2020 clearly stated that the guidelines are advisory and suggestive in nature, yet, UGC vide its revised guidelines issued on 06.07.2020 has asked all universities and colleges in the country to compulsorily complete the terminal semester or year examinations by the end of September, 2020," Mamata wrote in the letter.

She mentioned in the letter that the West Bengal government on Jun 27 issued a guideline regarding examinations in the state universities and colleges.

"Our advisory, issued in the interest of the health, safety and future of students, provides due weightage to the internal assessment and the performance of the candidate in the previous semesters in order to ensure transparency, and our advisory has a provision for holding special exams after the situation gets normalised, for such students who wish to appear in a formal examination instead of alternative evaluation method," she wrote.

"In the prevailing situation, such revised guidelines issued by UGC, will only adversely affect the interest of students of West Bengal and all over the country," the CM added.

"I would request you to get the matter re-examined immediately and restore the earlier advisory of UGC— this will facilitate state governments to implement its decision, taken on the basis of the guidelines of UGC, issued on 29.04.2020, to protect the interest of the students at national/international levels," the letter further read.

Earlier in the afternoon, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal wrote to PM Modi asking him to intervene immediately and to cancel terminal examinations of the Delhi University (DU) and other central government universities in view of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday questioned the University Grants Commission (UGC)'s decision to hold examinations during the Covid-19 pandemic, calling it "extremely unfair".

(Image Credit: PIB File)