Haryana govt shuts all universities, colleges till March 31 due to coronavirus

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Friday shut all universities and colleges in the state till March 31, a day after it declared coronavirus an epidemic.

The government also decided to close schools in five districts -- Gurugram, Sonepat, Rohtak, Jhajjar and Faridabad till March 31, officials said.

However, school students in these districts will take their exams as per schedule, according to a school education department order.


According to an advisory issued by the Panchkula based Director General of Higher Education, "The state government has decided that all universities and colleges situated in Haryana state will be closed till March 31 as a precautionary measure."

The department of school education Haryana, meanwhile, in its order stated, "All the government as well as private schools situated in Sonepat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Faridabad and Gurugram districts will remain closed till March 31 with immediate effect, except for holding examinations."

"The students will attend the school only to take the board exams, annual exams and assessment exams, March 2020 as per previous schedule. However, all the teaching and non-teaching staff members will attend the school as usual," it said, adding that schools in remaining districts shall function as per normal schedule.

The state government had on Thursday declared the coronavirus an epidemic and health minister Anil Vij had advised people to avoid large gatherings.