Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 11: The Law students of Kashmir University are in a pickle because the department has hastily announced the schedule for the offline examination, despite the students’ demands that their exams be conducted online or that their syllabus be relaxed.
The students said that they are being forced to take offline exams despite an increase in the number of COVID cases at the University, and they threatened to take to the streets if their requests were not met.
“COVID cases are on the rise both inside and outside the University, and taking offline exams at this time will increase the students’ exposure to infection,” a student said, adding that varsity is breaking COVID protocols and concealing the number of cases.
“When the institution started offline classes near the end of the academic term in October, majority of students who had not received both doses of vaccine were prevented from accessing the campus. If allowing them to attend classes was unsafe at the time, how is it safe now? Why these double standards?” the student asked.
Students of the LLB 2nd, 4th, and 5th Semesters, as well as BA LLB students, expressed surprise at the decision, saying that the administration had informed them that their request would be addressed a few days ago. “Recently, we presented formal representation outlining our demands and met with the department’s concerned head and obtained assurances”, another student added.
“As there was disturbance to our studies caused by the COVID- 19 outbreak, we demand that exams be held online in February or March of the following year. The professors assured us that our demands would be taken into account sympathetically. The department, however, issued date sheets for offline examinations, much to our astonishment,” he said.
Beauty Banday, The Head of the Department of Law at Kashmir University, Beauty Banday told Excelsior that students had many technical issues during online exams last year, which is why they have decided to take the exams offline this time. “We will strictly adhere to the COVID guidelines, and students will be assisted in every possible way,” she said.
When asked about the syllabus relaxation, she said that students will have additional options in the question papers, but that they must still prepare the full curriculum.
She, too, expressed concern about the rising number of COVID cases in the University, saying: “I am concerned as well, but let’s hope the cases remain under control in the next two months,” she.
She, however, feigned helplessness in changing the style of examination, saying, “the decision has to be made by the higher-ups”.
Some students blame their lecturers for disappointing them, claiming that they are forcing them to take offline tests. “Our own teachers have failed us. They refused to allow us to attend offline classes, and most of us are yet to receive the second dosage of the COVID-19 vaccination. Yet they want us to come in for an offline exam,” a 4th Semester student stated, adding that the faculty is aware of how adversely our studies have been impacted, but they lack empathy.
Another student suggested that they be offered syllabus relaxations, saying, “in other regions of the country, students are being given so many relaxations due to the disturbance in their studies. Only the law school at KU is unconcerned about the plight of students.”
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