New Delhi, July 28 (IANS): First and second year students from the Delhi University's three-year programmes will be allowed to attend classes in the next academic session irrespective of their failure in any previous semester exam, an official said Sunday.

The decision would help students to reappear in the previous semester's exams, which they failed to clear, and complete their course within the stipulated three years, said Dean - Students' Welfare J.M. Khurrana.

The student will have to appear in the previous semester's papers, in which he failed, along with those of the new semester, said Khurrana.

The varsity issued a notification on the issue late Saturday.

Deputy Registrar (Academics) Ram Dutt said in the statement: "The decision is a purely transitory measure and the students will take the examinations for the failed semester along with examination of the semester they are part of."

The university decision follows a request from the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) to protect the interest of the three-year programme students.

Arun Hooda, DUSU president, said: "The request by the DUSU and the National Students Union of India has finally been accepted."

"It will now help students to complete their graduation within three years," Hooda said.

Students welcomed the decision.

"I had thought that I would be losing a year as I was not able to give my political science exam, but now I am happy," said Swati Sharma, a student of Miranda House.

Rajiv Mathur, a student of Dyal Singh College, said: "It will be a little stressful when you have to give exams for two semesters together, but at least we are not losing a year."

The university has this year, for the first time, introduced the four-year undergraduate programme under which the students will be granted the bachelors with honours degree only after the completion of four years.

The students who took admission under the previous three-year programme would continue to complete their course as per the old scheme.