The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concern over the growing number of complaints from students regarding the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) On-Screen Marking (OSM) evaluation system and sought the assistance of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in examining the matter. Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the apex court observed that the grievances raised by students reflected significant frustration over the digital evaluation process and indicated the possibility of broader systemic issues that require attention.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana noted that there appeared to be "creeping problems" in the implementation of the digital marking system. During the hearing, the court remarked on the level of dissatisfaction among students and asked the Solicitor General to assist the bench in understanding the measures being taken to address these concerns. The court clarified that its observations were not adversarial but aimed at ensuring that the evaluation process remains fair, transparent and reliable for students appearing in CBSE examinations.
Representing the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that while individual discrepancies in marksheets highlighted in the petition had largely been resolved, the government was treating the broader concerns seriously. He stated that a one-member commission headed by S. Radha Chauhan has already been constituted to examine the On-Screen Marking system and recommend necessary reforms. The commission has been tasked with reviewing the evaluation process and suggesting systemic improvements to strengthen the digital assessment framework.
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The Public Interest Litigation, filed by petitioner Rakesh Binjola through advocate Laxmikant Matadan Shukla, seeks directions to the Centre and the CBSE to frame comprehensive regulations for conducting board examinations through the On-Screen Marking system. It also requests the constitution of a high-powered committee to oversee the implementation of reforms and ensure greater transparency, consistency and accountability in the digital evaluation process. The petitioner has further sought relaxation in minimum qualifying marks for students who have already secured provisional admissions or cleared entrance examinations, along with exemptions from the 75% or other Class 12 marks eligibility requirements prescribed by various institutions.
The Supreme Court has directed the Solicitor General to submit a status report outlining the steps being taken by the CBSE and the government to address the issues raised in the petition. The matter has been listed for further hearing next week. The case has drawn attention to the challenges associated with digital evaluation systems in large-scale public examinations and is expected to influence future reforms aimed at improving the accuracy, transparency and credibility of the CBSE's assessment process.
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