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The high court said students should not be required to petition courts for issuing their trademark papers, transcripts and degree certificates, which should be issued within a reasonable period in the natural course.
On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court ordered Delhi University to take a realistic approach and seriously consider the choice to set up a special cell for entertaining students digital certificate problems, mark sheets and transcripts.
The high court said students should not be required to petition courts for issuing their trademark papers, transcripts and degree certificates, which should be issued within a reasonable period in the natural course.
Justice Prathiba M Singh requested Joint Director of the DU Computer Center Sanjeev Singh and Dean (Examination) Vinay Gupta to join the proceedings before the court on Thursday to examine the feasibility of creating a special cell for issuing online mark sheets, transcripts, degree certificates and other related documents and also to allow students to have a proper interface with the varsity.
The high court passed the order while hearing a petition from five doctors who graduated from Lady Hardinge Medical College, which is a part of the Medical Sciences Faculty, DU, for their MBBS course.
The reason they contact the high court is that they graduated in 2018 but did not obtain their graduation certificate to date.
The petitioners, represented by advocate Sarthak Maggon, submitted that they intend to apply for their United States residency programs and sit in the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
They said August 15, 2020 is the last date by which they will have to submit the degree certificates for submission to the mobile application 'My ECFMG'.
Advocate Mohinder Rupal, appearing for DU, told the court that the varsity is taking measures to offer the tender for the expeditious printing of the degree certificates in the light of its order in another case.
The court was told that the DU released a tender notice for the printing and delivery of degree certificates, according to which the deadline for the submission of bids is August 1, 2020 and bids are to be opened on August 3, 2020 after which the contract will be concluded.
"The printer will then begin certificate printing. Consequently, the procedure is long drawn and does not fit the intent of students who have deadlines for submitting their papers, "noted the court.
"Students, particularly doctors providing their services during the COVID-19 pandemic, should not have been compelled to approach this Court, particularly when they graduated two years ago, for obtaining their degree certificates.
Representation is said to have been made by 25 students to the DU's Dean of Examinations but no response has been given, "said Justice Singh.
The high court added that most institutions, along with the digital signatures and security features, have made alternative arrangements during the lockdown period for issuing digital certificates, digital mark sheets and digital transcripts online.
"All DU is under lockdown and the physical interaction between students and administration is very limited.
There is no reason why DU should not follow technologically advanced methods to ensure the students are not uncomfortable.
"DU should take a realistic approach in this matter and consider seriously the option of setting up a special cell that would entertain students' requests by email, for digital certificates, mark sheets, transcripts etc. and installing the software required for issuing certificates with security features, to be sent electronically in a timely manner by email," the court said.
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