Supreme Court seeks answers on CBSE OSM system, flags students' frustration
The Supreme Court has raised concerns over CBSE's on-screen marking system, citing growing student grievances and apparent systemic issues. The court sought Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's assistance, while the Centre said a review panel is examining the grievances.
Expressing concern over growing complaints from students regarding the CBSE’s digital answer-sheet evaluation process, the Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that the issue reflects the "frustration" of young students and sought the assistance of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to address the matter.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking reforms in the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) on-screen marking (OSM) system.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, noted that there appear to be systemic "creeping problems" in the digital evaluation process.
"Look at the amount of frustration of young children," the bench observed while requesting the Solicitor General's assistance, PTI reported. Justice Bagchi clarified that the proceedings were not adversarial in nature and that the court was looking to work with the government to resolve the issues.
The bench directed the Solicitor General to place a status report on record detailing the steps taken.
GOVERNMENT SAYS COMMITTEE ALREADY REVIEWING EVALUATION PROCESS
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that while most individual marksheet discrepancies cited in the petition have been resolved, the government is taking the broader concerns over the evaluation system seriously.
He informed the bench that a one-member commission headed by S. Radha Chauhan has been constituted to review the on-screen marking mechanism and recommend reforms.
"We are not taking this adversely," Mehta said, adding that the panel is already examining the grievances raised by students and other stakeholders.
The bench posted the matter for hearing next week and directed the Solicitor General to update the court on the progress made by the CBSE.
WHAT THE PIL SEEKS
The PIL was filed by Rakesh Binjola through advocate Laxmikant Matadan Shukla.
The petition seeks directions to the Centre and the CBSE to frame comprehensive regulations governing the conduct of board examinations through the on-screen marking (OSM) evaluation system. It also seeks the constitution of a high-powered committee to oversee and implement reforms in the digital assessment process.
Additionally, the petitioner has sought relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks for students who have already secured provisional admissions or cleared entrance examinations.
The plea also requests exemption from the 75 percent or other minimum Class 12 marks criteria prescribed by institutions for admission to various courses.
Under CBSE’s on-screen marking (OSM) system, teachers evaluate scanned copies of students’ physical answer sheets on computers instead of checking the original paper scripts manually. The system was introduced to streamline and standardise the evaluation process.
Expressing concern over growing complaints from students regarding the CBSE’s digital answer-sheet evaluation process, the Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that the issue reflects the "frustration" of young students and sought the assistance of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to address the matter.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking reforms in the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) on-screen marking (OSM) system.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, noted that there appear to be systemic "creeping problems" in the digital evaluation process.
"Look at the amount of frustration of young children," the bench observed while requesting the Solicitor General's assistance, PTI reported. Justice Bagchi clarified that the proceedings were not adversarial in nature and that the court was looking to work with the government to resolve the issues.
The bench directed the Solicitor General to place a status report on record detailing the steps taken.
GOVERNMENT SAYS COMMITTEE ALREADY REVIEWING EVALUATION PROCESS
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that while most individual marksheet discrepancies cited in the petition have been resolved, the government is taking the broader concerns over the evaluation system seriously.
He informed the bench that a one-member commission headed by S. Radha Chauhan has been constituted to review the on-screen marking mechanism and recommend reforms.
"We are not taking this adversely," Mehta said, adding that the panel is already examining the grievances raised by students and other stakeholders.
The bench posted the matter for hearing next week and directed the Solicitor General to update the court on the progress made by the CBSE.
WHAT THE PIL SEEKS
The PIL was filed by Rakesh Binjola through advocate Laxmikant Matadan Shukla.
The petition seeks directions to the Centre and the CBSE to frame comprehensive regulations governing the conduct of board examinations through the on-screen marking (OSM) evaluation system. It also seeks the constitution of a high-powered committee to oversee and implement reforms in the digital assessment process.
Additionally, the petitioner has sought relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks for students who have already secured provisional admissions or cleared entrance examinations.
The plea also requests exemption from the 75 percent or other minimum Class 12 marks criteria prescribed by institutions for admission to various courses.
Under CBSE’s on-screen marking (OSM) system, teachers evaluate scanned copies of students’ physical answer sheets on computers instead of checking the original paper scripts manually. The system was introduced to streamline and standardise the evaluation process.
