Covid-19: Karnataka universities urged to put off degree exams by one month

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has requested the vice chancellors of universities in the state to consider deferring the semester examinations of degree courses by a month, citing COVID-19 third wave. G Kumar Naik, Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Higher Education stated in a press release on Wednesday that the Vice Chancellors of all the institutions have been asked to take a call regarding postponing examinations, since the syllabus is yet to be completed.

The portions could not be completed within the timeframe since offline classes were suspended in view of surge in COVID-19 third wave, he said. "Some of the universities had already announced the schedule of semester examinations but the Commissioner of Department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE) had written a letter asking to postpone the examinations by a month in order to enable students to better prepare," Naik said in a statement.

Also read | Ban orders around schools, colleges extended in Dakshina Kannada by one week

The Dakshina Kannada district administration in Karnataka has extended the prohibitory orders currently prevailing around the schools and colleges of the district till February 26.

The decision has been taken in view of the simmering tension in the context of the hijab controversy, Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner KV Rajendra said in a release. The order will be applicable from 6 pm on February 19 to 6 pm on February 26 for a radius of 200 metres around the schools and colleges in the district.

Recently, a guest lecturer in a private pre-university college in Karnataka resigned after she was allegedly asked not to wear Hijab.

The Karnataka government on Friday contended before the Karnataka High Court that the hijab is not an essential religious practice of Islam and preventing its use did not violate Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom.