Supreme Court Flags Flaws in CBSE Digital Evaluation

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday flagged concerns over students’ “frustration” with the CBSE’s digital evaluation system and sought the assistance of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta while hearing a public interest litigation on the issue.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana observed that there appeared to be systemic “creeping problems” in the on-screen marking (OSM) process used for evaluation of answer scripts.

“Look at the amount of frustration of young children,” the bench said, asking the Solicitor General to assist the court and submit a status report. “We are seeking your assistance, not in an adversarial way. There are some problems,” Justice Bagchi told Mehta.

“We are not taking this adversely,” Mehta said, adding that discrepancies in individual marksheets cited in the plea had largely been addressed, and that the government was examining systemic issues.

He informed the court that a one-member commission headed by S. Radha Chauhan had been constituted to review the evaluation system and recommend changes. The committee was already examining grievances, he said.

The court directed the Solicitor General to apprise it of steps taken by the CBSE and posted the matter for further hearing next week.

The PIL, filed by Rakesh Binjola, seeks directions to the Centre and the CBSE to frame regulations for conducting board examinations through the OSM system and to constitute a high-powered committee to oversee its implementation.

The petitioner has also sought relaxation in minimum qualifying marks for students who have secured provisional admissions or cleared entrance examinations, and exemption from prescribed Class 12 marks criteria for admission to various courses.