Fix evaluation criteria in 2 weeks: Supreme Court to CBSE

New Delhi, June 3

Two days after the cancellation of Class 12 examinations, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the CBSE and CISCE to place on record in two weeks a “well-defined objective criteria” for assessment of students.

“We are happy to note that the government has decided to cancel Class 12 board exams, but we want that the objective criteria fixed for assessment of students be placed before us in two weeks,” a Bench led by Justice AM Khanwilkar told Attorney General KK Venugopal.

Let students modify name in certificates

• Students having incorrect spellings of their names on certificates issued by the CBSE will soon get the correction done
• The SC directed the CBSE to process the requests of students for correction or change in the certificates
• Holding that name is an intrinsic element of one’s identity, the SC told the CBSE to amend its rules to incorporate a mechanism for making the change

The top court said it would go through the objective parameters for the assessment so that “if anyone has any objections they can be dealt with”. It said it would not give more time as many students would be taking admissions in colleges in India and abroad.

Venugopal told the Bench that the CBSE would require some time to formulate the well-defined objective criteria for the assessment of students and the court might defer the hearing for at least two weeks. The CISCE counsel also sought three-four weeks for placing the objective criteria.

Petitioner in-person Mamta Sharma said many state boards with collective strength of about 1.2 crore students had not yet taken any decision on Class 12 examinations and the court should direct them to act quickly.

“You should have patience and not rush things like this. You have only asked for the cancellation of exams by the CBSE and now you are saying state boards. We have interest of the students in our mind, irrespective of the board. Let the CBSE place on record objective criteria for the assessment and then we will see about other boards,” the Bench told Sharma. — TNS