HC directs DU to provide assistance to visually impaired students

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, directed the University of Delhi (DU) to provide all necessary assistance to the visually impaired students appearing for open book exam, or OBE. The students appearing for the exam will be reimbursed for books and assistive devices of cost up to Rs 2 lakh, the court said.

The court has also provided the option to appear for “second round of OBE” scheduled to be conducted in September if they choose not to appear for OBE scheduled to be held in July

Hearing the National Federation of Blind’s petition against OBE, the court said “The visually impaired students of final semester/term/year/ of UG and PG programme of DU, if able to, even with difficulties, to endeavour to participate in the open book examination announced by DU,”

The federation had moved the Delhi High Court rejecting the OBE as it was“against the principle of equality”. The petition demanded that visually-challenged students of the university should be promoted based on their past performance.

OBE or physical exam

The students have also been given the option to not appear for the OBE. The court further said “Merely because the visually impaired student/s participate in the open book examination...would not disentitle them to the relief...of assessment on the basis of performance in the earlier semester and or on the basis of internal assessment,"

According to the federation, some students returned to their hometown without taking their reading material along with them during the semester break. The court further directed the university to provision “reading material, books in an accessible form and assistive devices” and even a scribe when approached by a visually impaired student.

If such assistance is denied, the students can approach the university’s dean of examination, Vinay Gupta for further help.

The students, who appeared in OBE in July will also have the opportunity to improve their scores in the second round of OBE in September.

Also read:

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• DU cancels first, second-year examinations
  

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