Uncertainty over CBSE Class X, XII results

 Uncertainty prevailed over the announcement of the CBSE Class X and XII results, with the Union government exploring legal options on a Delhi High Court stay on the scrapping of the moderation of marks policy for this year.

“The order of the high court is being studied. The CBSE may file a special leave petition (appeal) in the Supreme Court, challenging the Delhi High Court’s order on Thursday,” an official source in the human resource development (HRD) ministry said. Earlier in the day, senior officials of the  ministry and the CBSE held a meeting on the issue. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had called the meeting, which was attended by CBSE chairman R K Chaturvedi and ministry’s Department of School Education Secretary Anil Swarup.

“At the meeting, it was decided that the board should take a legal opinion on the high court’s decision before taking any further step,” the source said. The CBSE was gearing up to announce the results this week without moderation of marks. But the high court on Tuesday directed it to continue with its moderation policy.

While CBSE officials and those in the ministry remained tight-lipped, official sources said that results may not get delayed.

The CBSE has not yet announced the date for the declaration of the results, but there were reports in various sections of the media that the results could be declared by the board anytime this week.
“Even as an SLP is filed with the apex court, announcement of results would not be delayed. Whatever the court says on the board’s appeal, it will be followed,” an official said.

The board is looking for legal options to challenge the Delhi High Court order on its moderation policy as at least six state governments, including Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, have declared the results of the Class X and XII board examinations.

“If CBSE continues with the moderation of marks policy this year following the high court’s order, it will create a peculiar situation because many of the states ended moderation of marks from this year itself,” a source said.

The HRD minister refused to comment on the issue, saying “CBSE will speak on it”. “That’s why I have asked CBSE. They will issue a statement on this issue. Let us not hurry. Just wait,” Javadekar said, when asked what would happen to those states that declared the results of the board examination of their schools without moderation of marks if CBSE implements the high court order.