Srinagar: The students of LL.B 2nd Semester from Kashmir University have appealed the universities for revision of the examination date sheet.
While talking to CNS, one of the students Manzoor said, “it is very unfortunate that batch of 2019 have attended regular classes hardly for two months because of the two unforgettable developments due abrogation of Article 370 and the Covid -19 pandemic. He added that consequent lockdowns disrupted our studies very badly.
While narrating their helplessness another student Irfan ah said that there is no fault of them in either of the two developments still they are being punished for none of our faults.
They blamed that the university authorities have had no regard for its devastating impact on the students who are passing through a nightmare due to the year-long disruption in their lives and academic careers. They added that student community is, in fact, a frustrated lot; some in such deep depression as may lead them to harsh steps like suicide.
While narrating their ordeal they said that after the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic, the authorities closed the University in the month of March. Soon after, the university started online classes. The students attended these online classes in spite of the difficulties due to suspension of high speed internet in the Valley which has not been restored till date.
Waheed one among the students from Dialgam mentioned that the University, vide notification No. F (PG-Exams) Acad/KU/ dated 30/05/20, shifted to online examination mode and conducted exams in the spring session online. The said notification has not been withdrawn and is, as such, still in force.
Another circular dated 20/10/20 cited that all the intermediate law students of KU and affiliated colleges were provisionally promoted to the next semester as per BCI guidelines and the end semester exams were deferred till the physical opening of university and return of normalcy while examination of intermediate semesters were put in abeyance.
On 11th &13th December submitted two written representations , requesting for sufficient time for preparation as they were having online classes for the next semester and had not completed the second semester syllabus.
The student’s delegation told CNS that they humbly submitted before the department to conduct our exams in February as it is very difficult to sit for exams in the severe cold.
Although the students assured that their representation would be taken into consideration before any decision about the exams.
“But suddenly the department has issued the date sheet for exams and has decided hastily to hold the examination from the 1st of January, thus turning a blind eye to our difficulties. This has only added to the frustration and stress of the students” they added.
It is pertinent to mention that there are directions from the UGC that whenever the university to conduct exams, it must make a comprehensive assessment of the level of preparedness and residential status of the students besides the status of covid 19 pandemic.
The UGC guidelines further said that to ensure the safety and health of students, the university may consider grading of students on internal evaluation and performance in previous semesters on 50-50 % age of marks.
Despite all these student friendly guidelines, university authorities are adamant to hold offline exams.