Delhi High Court Examines CBSE's On-Screen Marking Controversy

The Delhi High Court has called on the Central Government and CBSE to respond to a petition highlighting issues with the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system used in examinations. Concerns include marking discrepancies and system glitches, with calls for manual rechecking and accountability for systemic failures.

The Delhi High Court has requested that the Central Government and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) provide responses regarding a petition that points to discrepancies in the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system used in exam evaluations. A hearing on this matter is scheduled for June 12.

During the proceedings, a division bench consisting of Justices Neena Bansal, Krishna, and Madhu Jain sought clarification from both the Central Government and CBSE. The CBSE's legal counsel argued that the petition might not be maintainable, as it was initiated by a political group's student wing, the NSUI.

The student organization NSUI filed the petition through Advocates Mohd. Ali Khan and Rishav Ranjan, emphasizing the importance of addressing the concerns of minor students, which include unreadable or improperly marked OSM copies. The plea asks for compensatory marks, the reopening of the revaluation portal, and manual verification of exam papers.

Furthermore, the NSUI's petition seeks accountability for the company responsible for any irregularities in the OSM system. The concerns raised point to the broader implications for the academic futures of students, affecting university admissions, scholarship opportunities, and professional avenues. Technical glitches in the system have triggered a nationwide response among students and educators alike.

The CBSE acknowledged issues with the scanning portal, revealing a surge of applications for scanned copies, indicative of widespread dissatisfaction. According to the petitioner, over 1.27 lakh applications regarding nearly 3.87 lakh scanned answer books exemplify the urgency and lack of confidence in the current examination process.