Delhi HC refuses to order reopening of CBSE Class 12 re-evaluation portal in response to NSUI’s PIL. Here’s why

Delhi HC Refuses to Order CBSE Class 12 Re-Evaluation Portal Reopening

Theindiapostdaily.com – The Delhi High Court has decided against reopening the CBSE Class 12 re-evaluation portal, as requested by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) through a public interest litigation (PIL). This decision follows a detailed review of the petition, which sought to address concerns over the accuracy of the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The court emphasized that the current process has already accommodated student grievances, and further delays would disrupt the timely release of final results.

Justice Neena Bansal, along with Justice Krishna and Justice Madhu Jain, highlighted that students who were unsatisfied with their scores had the option to file individual appeals. The court noted that extending the portal’s operation beyond its initial closure date from 2 June to 7 June would risk pushing back the overall result declaration by several weeks, potentially affecting admission timelines for higher education.

“The re-evaluation process has been effectively executed within the existing timeframe. While the PIL raises valid concerns, the impact of prolonging the portal’s closure would be more significant than the inconvenience faced by a few students,” the judges remarked during the hearing.

The NSUI’s petition, filed by advocate Rishav Ranjan, argued that systemic flaws in the OSM system had led to widespread errors. It pointed to technical glitches and record mismatches that affected thousands of students. However, the court found that the initial phase of the portal, which allowed students to view scanned answer sheets from 19 May to 25 May, had already addressed many of these issues. Over 4 lakh students had accessed the platform, with more than 11 lakh answer sheets reviewed.

CBSE’s Justification for Closing the Portal

Representing the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended the decision to close the re-evaluation portal. He stated that the majority of students who needed re-evaluation had already submitted their applications, and the process was on track. Mehta emphasized that the current system had been designed to ensure efficiency and that extending the deadline would create logistical challenges.

The court was informed that the portal had processed over 1.67 lakh applications for re-evaluation, with 3.8 lakh answer sheets under review. Mehta noted that the OSM system had been functioning smoothly for most candidates and that the PIL relied on anecdotal evidence rather than concrete data. He argued that the decision to keep the portal closed was necessary to maintain the integrity of the examination process.

NSUI’s Demand for Transparency and Accountability

The NSUI petition also called for an independent investigation into the OSM system’s reliability. Advocates argued that the automation of marking had introduced inconsistencies, particularly in cases where scanning errors or technical malfunctions occurred. The PIL emphasized that these issues should not penalize students who had no control over the system’s performance.

Delhi HC refuses to order reopening of the portal, but the court acknowledged the need for a thorough evaluation of the OSM system. The judges suggested that the CBSE should provide further clarity on how the system handles discrepancies. While the current closure was upheld, the court left the door open for a more detailed review in July, should additional evidence be presented.

With over 17 lakh candidates awaiting admission decisions, the timing of result announcements remains critical. The court’s decision to keep the re-evaluation portal closed aligns with the broader goal of ensuring a consistent and timely academic process. Students who believe their scores were affected by errors are advised to file individual petitions or approach the CBSE directly for resolution.