The Supreme Court announced on Friday that the final-year college semester examinations must be held this year, while adding that States can request for the dates to be postponed beyond September 30 if they wished to in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The Apex Court further stated that States cannot promote students without the final-year exams being conducted. 

Several petitions were submitted at the top court seeking the cancellation of exams this year as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The petitions cited the problems being faced by students across the country at a time when all educational institutions have remained closed due to the ongoing crisis. They also asserted that students have already completed five semesters and acquired a Cumulative Grade Point Average or CGPA, which can be considered as a basis for results without the requirement for final-year exams. 

Earlier, the national education body, University Grants Commission (UGC), had issued orders for the final-year exams to be conducted by September 30, which has since then led to an opposition from political parties, who have pointed out to the volatile situation due to COVID-19 and floods across several parts of the country. In its argument, the UGC stated that the exams had to be conducted in order to "protect the academic future of students" and that degrees cannot be awarded without students appearing for their examinations.

The UGC, however, during the hearing, told the Supreme Court that its July 6 directive to universities and colleges for the final-year exams to be conducted by September 30 was not an order. They said degrees cannot be conferred without exams being conducted, while adding that States might want to extend the deadline for holding the exams. The three-judge panel comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah, who delivered the judgement through video-conferencing said, "If states feel they cannot conduct exams by September 30, they can approach UGC for relief,".

Representing the UGC, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the Supreme Court's ruling was for the "benefit of students" as admissions for the postgraduate courses need to begin soon.