Supreme Court to hear Gulf CBSE Class 12 students' plea against assessment policy

The Supreme Court will hear petitions by Gulf-based CBSE Class 12 students against the board's assessment policy after exams were cancelled. The students say the formula is arbitrary and could affect admissions, while seeking special exams and other relief.

In Short

• Supreme Court issued notice to Centre and CBSE on students' petitions
• Bench listed the matter for further hearing on July 14
• Petitions challenge separate assessment formulas for regular and private candidates

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear petitions filed by CBSE Class 12 students from Gulf countries challenging the Board's assessment policy framed after examinations were cancelled in the region due to the conflict in West Asia.

A bench of Justices KV Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe issued notice to the Centre and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), seeking their responses to the pleas. The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 14.

WHY ARE THE STUDENTS CHALLENGING THE CBSE POLICY?

The petitions challenge CBSE's March 27 notification prescribing a special assessment scheme for regular students whose Class 12 board examinations were cancelled in Gulf countries.

A separate plea also questions the Board's June 21 notification laying down the assessment formula for private candidates affected by the cancellation of examinations.

According to the petitioners, the assessment formula is arbitrary and does not adequately reflect students' academic performance. They have sought directions to the CBSE to conduct special examinations or provide an alternative evaluation mechanism that ensures parity with students who appeared for the examinations in India.

The students have also argued that the existing policy could adversely affect their admission prospects for undergraduate programmes in India and abroad. They contend that while CBSE has announced supplementary examinations beginning July 28 for students in India, no corresponding examination schedule has been notified for candidates from the affected Gulf countries.

WHAT RELIEF HAVE THE PETITIONERS SOUGHT?

The petition seeks multiple reliefs, including one-time compensatory grace marks, an opportunity to appear for special or improvement examinations with a "better-of-two" benefit, relaxation in eligibility norms under the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) and Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries (CIWG) categories, and measures to ensure that students do not lose an academic year.

The petitions stem from the cancellation of CBSE Class 12 board examinations in several Gulf countries earlier this year due to the conflict in West Asia. Following the cancellation, the Board adopted separate assessment schemes for regular and private candidates, which are now under challenge before the Supreme Court.

- Ends