Madras High Court: No re-evaluation of answer sheets of class X examination
26 May, 2015M Kaavya appeared in Class X public examination in 2014 and scored 87 marks in the Tamil second paper. Not satisfied with the marks awarded, she sought re-totalling in May 2014 and there was no change in her marks. Her father P Muthualagan obtained a copy of her answer sheet by filing an application under the RTI Act, and alleged certain ‘irregularities’ in the manner her copy was checked and marks awarded for seven questions. He stated that as a result of the poor checking of the answersheet, his daughter could secure only 488 marks and thus failed to avail a scholarship which was available to all those who secured 490 marks in the board examination.
As no re-evaluation was offered to the students, he approached the Madras High Court seeking re-evaluation. The government pleaded that there was no error in totalling, and no scheme to re-evaluate answer sheets was in existence.
In his order, Justice Vaidyanathan observed that all the questions had been properly corrected and some marks awarded to them. He refused to order for re-evaluation of answer sheets saying that there was no such provision at all. His order reads “Of course, to some of the questions, lesser marks were also allotted, which does not mean that the petitioner's daughter is entitled to get full marks for all the questions ……… In the absence of any scheme or provision for revaluation of answer sheet, this court cannot compel authorities to act in a particular manner as desired by the petitioner. If this petition is allowed, then there is every possibility of other students knocking at the door of this court for similar relief and the purpose of conducting the board examination will be defeated.”