The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday intervened to resolve a last-minute syllabus dispute at Amravati University. The court allowed students to choose between two novels for their upcoming Bachelor of Arts (BA) examination after a controversial change was made just weeks before the test.
Court's Directive
A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode directed the university to give students the option of answering questions on either Te Pannas Divas or Dhag. This ensures that those who prepared for the originally prescribed text are not disadvantaged.
Background of the Dispute
The controversy began when the university replaced Te Pannas Divas, which had been taught throughout the semester in the second-year Marathi course, with Dhag through a notification issued on April 4. This was barely four weeks before the examination. The sudden revision prompted a group of students to approach the court, alleging the move was arbitrary and unfair.
- Petitioners: Rutik More, Ravindra Bhilwekar, Chetan Patankar, Ritesh Shende, and Pratiksha Dhoke.
- Key Argument: The change left them with insufficient time to prepare and was inconsistent with established academic norms.
- Regulatory Concerns: Such abrupt revisions run contrary to guidelines intended to ensure stability in curriculum delivery.
Resolution
During the hearing, the university reached a compromise, suggesting that all students be given a choice between the two novels. Accepting this proposal, the court observed that it adequately safeguarded student interests. The bench directed the university to issue an immediate circular and conduct the examination based on the option selected by each student, effectively restoring academic fairness without delaying the exam schedule.
