The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) introduce a standard operating procedure (SOP) setting a clear timeline for providing marks or answer sheets to students on request.The recommendation was made while ruling on an appeal brought by a Year 12 student seeking assessment records she used to prepare her 2021 board exam results after exams were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The student claimed that errors in the assessment process caused her “mental distress and depression” and she had to undergo treatment.Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi said: “Today’s situation urgently requires the CBSE to introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to manage the timeline for submission/supply of marks or answer scripts at the request of students.”The CIC added: “This will be an effective step to avoid the appellant facing any unnecessary hardship in this matter which is likely to affect the minds of young people.”The committee “strongly recommended” CBSE to prepare SOPs under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act and ensure that “such policy-related information is disclosed on its official website”.A copy of the order has been sent to CBSE Secretary for necessary action. The first appellate authority was also directed to submit a compliance report within four weeks.Referring to the students’ complaint, the committee said, “Any form of denial by the CPIO (Central Public Information Officer) of the appellant’s own assessment marks is against the spirit of the RTI Act, 2005.”The CIC noted that while the student’s challenge to her evaluation was pending before the High Court, the CPIO “should address the appellant’s concerns” by providing information relevant to her own evaluation after removing details of other candidates who were exempt from disclosure under the RTI Act.The committee directed the CPIO of CBSE to provide the student with the revised reply along with the permissible information including the assessment marks in tabular format as required in her RTI application free of charge.After the CBSE introduced a special assessment policy after the cancellation of the Class 12 exams 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the students sought forms in 5 subjects. During the hearing, she argued that she had a right to know how her assessment was prepared and that the RTI Act did not prevent disclosure of her own records.
