The Delhi High Court is seeking a response from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) regarding a petition over exam marking irregularities.
The case highlights growing concerns over the reliability of digital grading systems and the accessibility of the appeals process for thousands of students.
The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) filed the petition to demand an independent inquiry into the on-screen marking (OSM) system used for Class 12 exams [1]. The union said that large-scale irregularities occurred within the digital evaluation process [2].
According to the petition, the closure of the re-evaluation portal prevented students from obtaining necessary grade reviews [1]. Because of these alleged failures, the NSUI said it is requesting that the court order the CBSE to extend the portal's availability and allow for the manual rechecking of answer sheets [2].
The court scheduled the hearing for June 8, 2024 [2]. This legal challenge comes amid conflicting accounts of the system's performance. The CBSE said student grievances are being addressed and that re-evaluation services functioned smoothly [1].
Conversely, the NSUI said the system's flaws necessitate a full probe to ensure academic fairness [2]. The petition asks the court to intervene and ensure that the Government of India, and the board, provide a transparent accounting of the marking process [1].
“The NSUI is requesting that the court order the CBSE to extend the portal's availability.”
This legal battle tests the accountability of digitized education infrastructure in India. If the court finds that the on-screen marking system was flawed, it could force a systemic shift back toward manual verification or mandate stricter audits of educational software to protect student interests.
