Court dismisses DU teachers' plea challenging semester system

The Delhi High Court Thursday dismissed the petition a group of Delhi University teachers challenging the implementation of the semester system in the undergraduate courses, saying the courts were "ill-equipped" to arrive at a decision on the issue.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Veena Birbal sid: "We have consciously not been drawn into the debate as to whether the semester system is more appropriate than the annual system or vice-versa. The reason for this is clear. The courts are ill-equipped to comment on such matters or arrive at value judgments."

"These are matters for experts in the field of education. We have examined the matters from the standpoint of law and have reached the conclusion that the writ petitions are liable to be dismissed," the bench added.

The Delhi University Teachers Association(DUTA) moved the high court challenging the semester system and also demanded quashing of the notification.

Following a letter from the University Grant Commission (UGC) on March 21, 2010, DU has implemented the semester system for undergraduate students.

The petitioner had said that before issuing the notification there should be a transparent procedure in which teachers, students, college dean and academicians sit together and sort out the problem.