Devise Objective Criteria To Evaluate Class XII Students In 2 Weeks: SC

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New Delhi: Expressing happiness at the government’s decision to cancel the Class XII board exams, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the CBSE and CISCE to place on record well-defined objective criteria for assessment of students in two weeks.

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari asked Attorney General K K Venugopal and advocate J K Das, appearing for the CISCE, to place on record the parameters within two weeks, media reports quoted PTI as saying.

“We are happy to note that the government has taken the decision to cancel Class XII board exams but we want that the objective criteria fixed for assessment of marks be placed before us,” the bench said adding that it will not give more time for placement of objective criteria as many students will be taking admissions in colleges in India and abroad. The top court said that it will go through the objective parameters for the assessment of marks so that if anyone has objections they can be dealt with.

“This is equally important as the relief sought by the petitioners seeking cancellation of board exams,” the bench observed, PTI reported.

Hearing a plea seeking directions to cancel the Class XII exams of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) amid the pandemic situation, Venugopal said that CBSE will require some time to formulate the well-defined objective criteria for assessment of Class XII students and the court may defer the hearing for at least two weeks.

Das said CISCE wanted 3-4 weeks for placing the objective criteria as there will be consultation of experts in the process.

The bench said, “You (CISCE) can do it overnight. Four weeks’ time is a little longer. We cannot give you 3-4 weeks’ time. You please place it before us in two weeks as students will have to take admissions in colleges. Nowadays all communication is happening virtually”.