The Supreme Cout on Friday (August 21) heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Centre and the Central Board of Secondary Education
(CBSE) to frame fresh regulations for conducting examinations through the On-Screen Marking (OSM) evaluation system. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and consisting of Justice V Mohana and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the matter. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted to the CJI Surya Kant-led Bench that around 1.68 lakh students approached CBSE through a grievance window and had their answer sheets re-evaluated. He further stated that he has prepared a note on the matter, but sought time until Monday to place the matter before the court through an affidavit. "I have something in my mind. I will discuss it with the government. Before discussing it with the government, it may not be proper for me to put it in writing,” the Solicitor General said. The CJI also referred to the possibility of an oversight in the evaluation process. Mehta said a one-member committee has been constituted and a grievance window was opened for one week allowing students to raise their grievances. "There was a one-man committee. There was a window open for one week. Whoever had some difficulty could come and apply," Mehta said. However, the petitioner's counsel submitted that several students faced grievances and said that some candidates had cleared entrance examinations but could not meet the minimum marks required in their CBSE results. On the basis of this, the counsel sought reopening of the grievance window, arguing that a larger number of students could still be affected. During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel also submitted that several students continue to have grievances and said that some candidates had cleared entrance examinations but could not meet the minimum marks required in their CBSE results. However, Mehta pointed out that CBSE marks are linked to other entrance examinations and that those examinations cannot be postponed. He cited examinations such as JEE Main. SG Mehta has further stated that he would take instructions from the government and place its response and relevant records before the Supreme Court on Monday.
