Delhi HC stays CBSE decision to scrap moderation policy

Affording huge relief to students who appeared for Class 10 and 12 exams, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the CBSE not to implement its decision to scrap its moderation policy this year.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Pratibha M. Singh noted that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had decided to do away with the moderation policy after the students had taken the examinations.

"This may completely change the course of academic future of students," said the bench in its interim order, adding: "A rule can't be changed after the game has begun."

"It is directed that the CBSE shall follow the declared policy, including the moderation policy, which was in vogue" when the students took their exams, the court said.

The court's direction came on a public interest litigation that contended that the policy should not be done away with this year since it will affect students of Class 12 who have applied for admissions abroad.

The petition was filed by a parent and a lawyer, saying the policy was changed by way of a notification after the exams for the year were held and hence would have a drastic impact on the students.

Moderation of marks is done to bring uniformity in the evaluation process, wherein marks scored by students are changed to align with the marking standards of different examiners.

--IANS

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