After deferring the proposal to reopen the National Law Universities (“NLUs”) in its December 2020 meeting, the Consortium of National Law Universities reviewed the situation as it had suggested to do so in its Press Release issued in January 2021.
The Governing Body of the Consortium of National Law Universities comprises of 22 Vice-Chancellors. It met on 22nd February, 2021 to take stock of the recent developments with the Corona Virus Pandemic and to review the possibility of reopening the Universities and hostels in March 2021.
Expressing concerns of “several cluster outbreaks in large residential complexes and University hostels across the country”, coupled with the fact that “vaccination for Covid-19 is yet unavailable to students and faculties”, the Consortium remarked that “a full reopening of physical classes and hostels would pose extremely high medical risks to students, faculty and the University Community.” Notably, the January 2021 Press Release of the Consortium “resolved that physical classes should commence only after universal vaccination of students, faculty and staff is completed.”
Owing to the guidelines issued by multiple governing bodies and stakeholders like UGC, State Government and Central Government, the Consortium left the decision on reopening to the individual Universities, after accommodating “their existing infrastructure arrangements, maintenance and medical services and local conditions”. In this backdrop, the Consortium admitted that making “a single decision applicable to all NLUs” was not feasible.
The Consortium acknowledged that “as the NLUs have no requirements for laboratory and in person simulation extinct”, there was “no compelling academic reason to bring back batches graduating in 2021”, thereby dropping a hint that online mode of imparting lessons can go on for now. On a concluding note the Press Release, which was undersigned by the President of the Consortium, noted that “it is in the best interest of all Universities to reopen safely rather than quickly in a manner that minimises the loss of life or possible long term medical damage to faculty, students and the University community.”
The General Body of the Consortium resolved to “review the situation in the first week of the March” and advised “Universities that have not yet announced reopening to wait for few more days”.
Varsities across India have been closed since March 2020. However, there were a few attempts made to open campuses in mid-2020 which were later aborted. Don’t miss out our previous coverage on these, click here and here to read more on this.
The Press Release of the Consortium boiling down the decisions taken by the Governing Body in its meeting scheduled on the 22nd February 2021 is unavailable on the website of the Consortium (HERE). However, the SCC Online team confirmed about the veracity of the Press Release with one of the members of the Governing Body who answered in affirmative.
