An Open Letter to the Chief Justice Of India

 The Hon. Chief Justice Of India

Respected Lordship,

I, Mr. Joseph Castelino, a concerned citizen and a dedicated parent would like to address a major issue pertaining to all the students, their respective families, as well as the teaching faculty and clerical staff belonging to my country. They are the ones who are facing hurdles in the academic process due to various stake holders thereby humongously burdening the Judiciary System.

Considering the fear and trauma that the students and their parents have  been facing throughout the past 5 months, I have taken the liberty to put forth a few suggestions before you :

1.  The UGC Guidelines and diktat to mandate the exams before 30 September, 2020 is totally wrong and unjustified. The decision should solely depend upon the pandemic condition of the State and the Covid-19 case count of the States being affected. Once the Disaster Management Act is in force, everything along with decisions involving UGC and the conduction of exams is curtailed. The UGC should follow the guidelines laid by the Disaster Management. 

2.    If any State grants degrees without conducting respective exams, it would be regarded as a Covid-Degree and would have a Negative impact on the Student’s career. Students passing out from such an "Exempted Covid Batch" will be seen as Incompetent among Competitors belonging to previous and future batches. More over it will result in discrimination, adversely affecting such a student’s career prospects both in India as well as overseas. HOWEVER, I STILL FIRMLY STAND WITH “ DON’T RISK LIVES IN ORDER TO AVOID RISKING CAREERS”. Immediate Conduction of exams amidst the Pandemic situation is not a SOLUTION. In future, the Court would again be burdened to introduce a Covid Quota for these students in educational and employment fields.

3.   Instead of arguing, the UGC should advise the Universities to follow instructions from the respective State Governments, about the time suitable for exam conduction only after the lock-down is relaxed.

4.   Taking into account public health -  rise / decline in the number of covid cases and if lock down is not lifted by August 31, the unavailability of Public Transport and Railway Services etc., it would not be possible for the students to commute to the exam centres.

5.  Inspite of knowing that there are in-adequate facilities for existing Covid patients, no medicines, courts functioning online, work-from-home policy being applied to offices, restaurants being closed, no transportation, etc., how can UGC sitting inside closed doors on the basis of conference calls and video discussions lay guidelines and take decisions for the Students ?

6.    Let the exam dates be scheduled only once the situation in the State is under control after the lock-down ceases and not on a particular date that has been announced while lock-down is in force.

7.    We are still in Lock-down !!! UGC should wait till August 31st to check the lock-down status - if it is lifted and whether essential commodities and transport facilities resume. What if lock-down gets extended further ? Let UGC and University Heads sit together and inspect the examination centres physically to check if the exam conducting centres are equipped as per the required guidelines. Merely laying down of online safety orders will not serve the purpose, unless verified and implemented.

I urge and implore you, to consider the above suggestions.

Regards,

Joseph Castelino