The Madras high court has been moved challenging the choice-based credit system (CBCS) formulated by Anna University through Regulations 2017 for BE and BTech students to its various affiliated institutions and all the University Colleges of Engineering of Anna University.
Madras High Court
Chennai:
However, the bench, while refusing to stay the impugned regulations, 2017, said “However, this court, at this stage, is not inclined to grant any interim orders in the light of the settled position of law that the decisions of the academic authorities should not, ordinarily be interfered with, by the courts.”
The plea, moved as a public interest litigation, submitted that the Regulations 2017 have been formulated by Anna University, introducing CBCS, for the students admitted to BE/BTech, for various affiliated institutions and as per the said regulations, it would also apply to all the university colleges of Engineering of Anna University, other than the autonomous colleges from the Academic year 207-18.
The said regulation also applies to the students who are undergoing the studies and suddenly, the entire nomenclature of the examination scheme has been changed against the interest of the students who are undergoing studies in various disciplines.
It was further submitted that previously, if a student had any arrears, he/she can clear it within the academic session and now on account of the introduction of the new Regulations 2017, he/she must wait for the whole year and that apart, the CBCS also puts some form of restriction.
In all fairness, Anna University should have introduced the same, in respect of students who are going to join afresh commencing from the next academic year, the plea added.
A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam, before whom the plea came up, impleaded Anna University represented by its Registrar and issued notice returnable by February 8.
However, the bench, while refusing to stay the impugned regulations, 2017, said “However, this court, at this stage, is not inclined to grant any interim orders in the light of the settled position of law that the decisions of the academic authorities should not, ordinarily be interfered with, by the courts.”
The plea, moved as a public interest litigation, submitted that the Regulations 2017 have been formulated by Anna University, introducing CBCS, for the students admitted to BE/BTech, for various affiliated institutions and as per the said regulations, it would also apply to all the university colleges of Engineering of Anna University, other than the autonomous colleges from the Academic year 207-18.
The said regulation also applies to the students who are undergoing the studies and suddenly, the entire nomenclature of the examination scheme has been changed against the interest of the students who are undergoing studies in various disciplines.
It was further submitted that previously, if a student had any arrears, he/she can clear it within the academic session and now on account of the introduction of the new Regulations 2017, he/she must wait for the whole year and that apart, the CBCS also puts some form of restriction.
In all fairness, Anna University should have introduced the same, in respect of students who are going to join afresh commencing from the next academic year, the plea added.
New guidelines for exams to be framed, says varsity
After facing protests by students over the introduction of choice-based credit system in the 2017 exam regulations, Anna University has decided to come out with a new set of guidelines.
In the 2017 exam regulations, the university had introduced choice-based credit system (CBCS), which was applicable to BE/BTech students studying in engineering colleges affiliated to the Anna University (other than autonomous colleges) and to all its University Colleges of Engineering from the academic year 2017-18.
However, hundreds of engineering students staged a demonstration last Friday demanding the authorities to abolish the CBCS.
The students demanded that the university must immediately withdraw the CBCS since they could not complete the degree within the stipulated time if they keep arrears due to the new rule. The students further claimed that it takes over one year to appear for the arrear’s exams.
“Regarding the reappearance of the exams in each semester (including I Semester) in Regulation 2017 the University is taking steps and, in this connection, all relevant academic bodies are discussing to address the genuine concern of the students,” Anna University said on Saturday.
“Hence, students need not waste their time. Vice Chancellor suggests that the students concentrate on studies. We will soon come out with new guidelines,” the university said in a communique.