Delhi University to release withheld results of students given second chance after year-long delay

NEW DELHI: Delhi University is preparing to release the results of 12 undergraduate students from the 2017-18 batch nearly a year after they appeared for their final exams, held under a provision for those who had failed to complete their degrees within the stipulated time.The move is part of a broader effort by the university to address academic disruptions and pending cases.These students had appeared for their remaining exams in two cycles — Nov and Dec 2023 and Jan, May, June and July 2024. However, their results have remained withheld for close to 10 months. Following multiple representations made by students and internal deliberations, officials said DU planned to release the results shortly."The (standing) committee (on academic affairs) after due consideration has decided to accede to the requests of the students for an extension of one year within the span period in exceptional circumstances. The results of such students are withheld by the examination branch," the committee noted in its minutes of a meeting. It added that the examination branch would be requested to declare their results.Asked about the reason behind the delay, DU controller of examination GS Tuteja said he wasn't aware of the matter. "There must be some issue why their results were not released. It could be a college-level issue, I will have to look into each case before saying anything," he said. Meanwhile, DU is also set to give a one-year extension to 27 master's, Bachelor of Mass Communication and LLB students who took admission in 2019 and whose studies were significantly disrupted during the pandemic. These students will be allowed to appear for their remaining exams in the coming months. This extension is being granted in light of the Covid-related academic disruptions.A few individual cases have also been cleared on a special case basis and humanitarian grounds. One of them is a senior railway official who is pursuing an executive MBA from Faculty of Management Studies. He has been granted a special opportunity to complete his course under a provision introduced during DU's centenary year for exceptional cases.Another case involves a visually impaired student from Faculty of Music, who could not complete his degree due to illness. He can now sit for the remaining exams as a special case. Three more students whose academic progress was derailed by Covid-related disruptions have also been granted extensions.University officials said these decisions were in line with DU's approach to support students facing genuine hardships. "These are not blanket extensions, but are carefully considered cases where students had valid reasons for falling short," said an official. DU had earlier allowed time-bound reappearances for students who had exhausted their maximum time for completing a degree, especially during and after Covid-19. The current decisions reflect the continuation of such efforts—providing a "second chance" to students caught in extraordinary situations.