CBSE, ICSE results to be declared by July 15

Remaining exams cancelled; SC approves scheme for marking, optional exams

New Delhi, June 26

The Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) on Friday told the Supreme Court that they would declare the results of Class 10 and 12 board examinations by July 15.

This was aimed at enabling candidates so that they can apply and seek admissions in the Higher Education Institutions in India and abroad, the CBSE told the court.

A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar approved a CBSE scheme under which remaining examinations for Class 10 and Class 12, scheduled from July 1, stand cancelled.

Under the assessment scheme approved by the Apex Court, for the students of both classes, who have completed all examinations, their results will be declared based on their performance in the examinations they have already appeared.

For students who have appeared in the examinations in more than three subjects, the average of the marks obtained in the best three performing subjects will be awarded in the subjects whose examinations have not been conducted.

However, for students who have appeared in the examinations in only three subjects, the average of the marks obtained in the best two performing subjects will be awarded in the subjects whose examinations have not been conducted.

The CBSE said: “There are very few students of Class 12, mainly from Delhi, who have appeared in the examinations in only one or two subjects. Their results will be declared based on the performance in the appeared subjects and performance in the internal/practical project assessment.

These students will also be allowed to appear in the optional examinations conducted by the CBSE to improve their performance if they desire to do so. The result of these students will also be declared along with other students,” the CBSE said.

Asking the CBSE to issue forthwith a notification in this regard, the top court disposed of all the petitions pending before it and high courts on the issue.

The ICSE counsel told the Bench that it has agreed with the scheme framed by the CBSE in this regard. However, the ICSE will give the option to both Class 10 and 12 students to take examinations at a later stage when COVID-19 situation improves.

The ICSE clarified that it would follow a slightly different assessment scheme than that of the CBSE for awarding marks to students, which would be released within a week.

The ICSE said it might conduct optional exams even for Class 10 students as its marking criteria was slightly different from that of the CBSE.

The top court said the CBSE might even decide in future not to hold the optional exams for Class 12.

In terms of this order, all proceedings/petitions pertaining to the subject matter of conducting examinations for Class 10 and Class by the ICSE for the academic year 2019-20, pending in this court or any other court, shall be governed by this order and deemed to be disposed of accordingly.

It turned down a suggestion to fix a deadline for students to decide whether or not to sit for the optional examinations.

The order came on petitions filed by Col Amit Bathla, Poonam Singla, Charu Singh and Sunitha — whose children happen to be Class 12 students — seeking the scrapping of examinations for remaining papers in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They had demanded that results should be declared “on the basis of examination already conducted and to calculate it on an average basis with the internal assessment marks of the remaining subject”.

Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta said there should not be any deadline for students to decide since the decision is pro-students.

“If exams are conducted at any time in future, let the students take a call at that point in time,” he said.

Petitioners' counsel Rishi Malhotra said the CBSE should give a timeline by when students can opt for examinations.

“It is also possible that the CBSE may decide the situation is not conducive to hold exam at all,” the Bench noted.

The CBSE had on Thursday told the court that it had decided to cancel the remaining Class 10 and Class 12 examinations scheduled to be conducted between July 1 and July 15 due to COVID-19 pandemic. The ICSE had decided to follow suit.

However, the top had sought further clarifications from the CBSE on the option of examination for Class 12, date of publication of results, state board examinations and new academic year.