Incorrect Translation Of Questions: Calcutta HC Awards 20 More Marks To NEET Candidate [Read Judgment]

"Denying him marks on contention he ought to have compared with the questions set in English would be unjust."

The Calcutta High Court has ordered to give 20 additional marks to a NEET candidate whose answers got wrong due to incorrect translation of questions.

Washim Akram Hossain, who took the test in Bengali, had approached the high court seeking compensatory marks. He contended that due to erroneously translated seven questions, he had to spend more time comparing those questions with the English version.

The CBSE resisted the plea citing recent judgment of the Supreme Court wherein it had set aside a Madras High Court judgment that awarded compensatory marks on all questions erroneously translated to the Tamil language to students who took the test in that language.

However, Justice Arindam Sinha observed: "Denying him marks on contention he ought to have compared with the questions set in English would be unjust. Firstly, because an examinee, in examination to find out depth of knowledge, will not readily think the question is wrong. Second, comparison would then present such examinee with more difficulty."

The bench then directed: "Petitioner wrongly attempted four of the five questions having correctly answered one of them. There will be direction upon the Board to award 16 marks to petitioner for these four questions and in addition four to offset negative marking on those questions. Petitioner will thus get addition of twenty marks to his tally of marks. With this aggregate petitioner will find further relief, from appropriate authority, if available to him on the basis of improved score." 

Read the Judgment Here