DU Exam: Delhi HC Dismisses Petition for conducting Online Exams at Delhi University

The Delhi High Court has denied a petition seeking to hold the next DU Exam 2022 in an online format, crushing any last hope for Delhi University students. According to sources, the Delhi University Exam 2022 for 2nd and 3rd year students will now be held according to their original timetable and format, i.e., offline or pen-and-paper mode, after the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition brought by students requesting online exams. According to the latest official update, the challenge to the offline tests has been “dismissed as withdrawn.”

Justice Rekha Palli, who was dealing with a petition by several students seeking online examinations in light of the rising Covid-19 cases earlier this week, said that this was not the time to issue any directions and that the petitioners were free to approach the court if their circumstances changed.

The petitioners argued that they were either outstation students or enrolled in open learning courses, and that it would be unsafe for them to travel in the current scenario given the spread of Covid-19 cases in Delhi and other areas of the nation. The plea argued that the challenged decision was “wholly arbitrary, illegal, and unreasonable” in the circumstances, and that there was no justification for conducting the examination in physical mode in May, especially since classes continued in virtual mode despite the resumption of physical classes.

The petition further stated over 65 percent students come from outside the national capital, must stay in paying guests or private accommodations, and must use public transportation, putting them at danger. The petitioners and other students who finished their semester through online means cannot be forced to take the examination in person, according to the request.

The plea also sought the issuance of direction to conduct all examinations in open book mode for the current semester.