At a time when Covid-19 infections are at its peak, Jamia Millia Islamia university has decided to hold annual examination for private students in pen and paper mode from Tuesday. The move is seen as a health risk for students and staff who will do the invigilation duty.

University registrar A.P. Siddiqui has issued an order asking teaching and non-teaching staff to come for the examination duty. The duty includes checking admit card and taking attendance of each examinee, distribution of question papers in centres, collection of answer sheets and submission with the university authorities.

Many teachers and non-teaching staff fear that this measure would “unnecessarily” expose them to Covid infections. Prof. Syed Afzal Murtaza Rizvi from the department of computer science has written to the registrar to defer the test for now.

An email was sent to the registrar but no comments could be obtained.