"Reopening Of Physical Classes And Hostels Would Pose Extremely High Medical Risks" : Consortium Of National Law Universities Advices NLU's To Reopen 'Safely Rather Than Quickly'

The Consortium of National Law Universities has advised the Universities to take individual decisions in terms of opening up their Universities in a phased manner. The Universities have however been advised to wait for some days before they decide to reopen.The Governing Body has observed that there is no compelling academic reason to bring back batches and it is in the best interest of all Universities to reopen safely rather than quickly.The decision was taken in the meeting of the Governing Body of the Consortium of National Law Universities comprising of 22 Vice-Chancellors on 22nd February, 2021 conducted to take stock of the recent developments with the Corona Virus Pandemic and review the possibility of reopening the Universities and Hostels in March 2021.According to the Governing Body, a full reopening of physical classes and hostels would pose extremely high medical risks to students, faculty and the University Community, considering that vaccination for Covid 19 is yet unavailable to students and faculty. Therefore the Universities are likely to make limited arrangements to cope with adverse circumstances that a few students face.The Consortium of National Law Universities through its press release has stated that while the Governing Body acknowledges the decline in the Covid 19 cases it has also noted the increase in the number of cases in few States including Maharashtra and Kerala in the last one week , along with several cluster outbreaks in large residential complexes and University hostels across the country.The Governing Body, noting that it is not feasible to make a single decision applicable to all NLUs, has asked all individual Universities to take stock of their existing infrastructure arrangements, maintenance and medical services and local conditions before announcing any decision to open up their Universities in a phased manner.It has added that there is no compelling academic reason to bring back batches graduating in 2021, since the NLUs have no requirements for laboratory and in person simulation extinct.The Governing Body has observed that 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. This has been said considering that all Universities have made arrangements to continue online delivery of the academic programme, and there will be no disruption of the academic calendar in 2021.The General Body also resolved to again review the situation in the first week of the March and the Universities that have not yet announced reopening have been advised to wait for few more days.

"Reopening Of Physical Classes And Hostels Would Pose Extremely High Medical Risks" : Consortium Of National Law Universities Advices NLU's To Reopen 'Safely Rather Than Quickly'

Srishti Ojha

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