The Supreme Court is seeking a response from the central government and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) regarding re-evaluation rules for exams marked using the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The court heard a Public Interest Litigation on Friday, August 21 .
Court Hears Concerns Over OSM Evaluation
A bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, considered the petition's concerns. The petitioner's counsel stated that many students remain dissatisfied even after a grievance window closed. Some students who performed well in competitive entrance exams reportedly failed to meet CBSE's minimum mark requirements.
The petitioner requested the court to reopen the OSM evaluation grievance window. This would allow more affected students to submit their concerns. Chief Justice Kant noted a potential flaw in the new marking system that might have impacted numerous students.
The petitioner urged the court to establish clear, uniform rules for CBSE answer sheet re-evaluation for future academic years. This aims to ensure fairness for all students.
Government's Position and Next Steps
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that a one-member committee was formed to investigate the issue. A one-week grievance window was previously opened for students facing difficulties with their OSM evaluations. Approximately 1.68 lakh students utilized this window for re-evaluation of their answer sheets.
Mr. Mehta stated he has prepared a note on the matter. He requested time until Monday to consult with the government before submitting a formal written response.
He also highlighted the connection between CBSE marks and entrance examinations like JEE Main. The Solicitor General emphasized that these critical entrance exams cannot be postponed.
The Supreme Court directed the government to file its reply, along with relevant records, by Monday. This will allow the court to proceed with the case and reach a fair resolution for all affected students.
