CBSE, CISCE Inform Supreme Court About Schedule For Improvement, Compartment, Private, Patrachar Exams; Results By September End

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) have informed the Supreme Court about the schedule for their improvement, compartment, private and patrachar examinations.

The schedule indicated by I.C.S.E in its affidavit reads thus:-

"The following schedule for the afore stated "Improvement Examinations" will be followed:

04.08.2021: The Candidates should register  themselves for the improvement examinations  with the Board by August 4, 2021.

5/6.08.2021: The Respondent No.3 Board will declare a detailed examination schedule by 5th or 6th August, 2021.

16.08.2021: The improvement examinations shall commence on August 16, 2021.

20.09.2021: The results for the Improvement Examinations shall be declared around September 20, 2021".

The Schedule given by C.B.S.E. reads thus:

"Following schedule will be followed of CBSE for conducting Exams Improvement/Compartment/Private/Pratrachar Students of Classes XII & X:

10.08.2021 CBSE Portal will be opened for Students for registration.

10.08.2021 Circular will be issued by CBSE declaring Date Sheet for Exams.

25.08.2021 Commencement of Exams.

15.09.2021 Completion of Exams with last Paper.

30.09.2021 Date for declaration of Results".

A bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari recorded in its order the above schedule given by both the boards. The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by Association of Private Schools of Uttar Pradesh.

"In light of this assurance given by two Boards, nothing more needs to be done regarding the apprehension of the petitioners and similarly placed persons about the uncertainty in conducting examinations and declaration of results thereof by the respective boards", the bench observed.

The petitioner raised another apprehension about the Result Committee not informing the students about the extent of reduction of their marks. In this regard, the CBSE told the Court that it will instruct all schools to notify the internal assessment marks, highest average in the preceding three years and the marks assigned by the Result Committee on case to case basis. That shall be the responsibility of the concerned school(s) where the students are pursuing studies.

"This arrangement, in our opinion, would redress the grievance of the petitioners", the Court said.

The bench also rejected a prayer made for directing state boards to refund the fee for the cancelled written exams. The bench approved the stand taken by state boards about their inability to refund the amount having spent the same for preparatory work and for making logistical arrangements for conducting the examination which had to be cancelled at the last minute

Case Details

Case Title : Association of Private Schools of UP and another v. Union of India

Bench : Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari

Click here to read/download the order