New Delhi: The Supreme Court denied a petition seeking to reopen the CBSE portal for Class 12 answer‑sheet re‑evaluation under the On‑Screen Marking system. The bench held that the portal was available to all candidates for a fixed period and reopening could invite fresh claims.

  • The OSM portal was open to all candidates for a limited time
  • The Supreme Court did not direct a reopening
  • The decision aims to prevent a flood of new claims

Background

CBSE introduced the On‑Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 answer sheets, allowing teachers to evaluate scanned copies of physical scripts on a computer. While intended to streamline grading, the digital process sparked complaints about scanning errors, unreadable pages, and missed sheets.

Case Overview

A petition filed in the Supreme Court asked the court to order the portal to be reopened, alleging that technical glitches prevented many students from applying for on‑screen verification within the stipulated window. The petitioner sought just an additional week to complete the process.

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Court’s Ruling

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana held that the portal had been made available to all candidates for a predefined period and that reopening it could generate fresh claims. "If you miss the bus, you miss the bus," the CJI remarked, emphasizing the fairness of the original timeframe.

CBSE’s Response

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBSE, informed the court that 1.68 lakh students successfully applied during the notified window. He also referenced a prior dismissal of a similar challenge by the Delhi High Court.

Historical Background

Legal challenges to digital evaluation have surfaced before, focusing on issues such as incomplete scanning and the lack of a physical review layer. These disputes have spurred ongoing debates about transparency and the reliability of technology in high‑stakes examinations.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the ruling not only safeguards students’ procedural rights but also signals a push for clearer regulatory guidelines governing digital exam systems across India.

"Judicial oversight is essential in the digital assessment arena to ensure that technical flaws are addressed with fairness," said Prof. Anjali Sharma, education policy expert.
Did You Know?: The OSM system was first rolled out nationally in 2020 as part of CBSE’s digital transformation agenda.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can students still request a re‑evaluation of their answer sheets?

A: The online portal is now closed; students must pursue re‑evaluation through the traditional school‑level process prescribed by CBSE.

Q2: What steps will be taken to prevent similar technical glitches in the future?

A: CBSE has announced plans to upgrade server capacity and introduce backup verification mechanisms for upcoming examination cycles.