High Court stayed GIC directive on answer sheets to students

Ahmedabad, June 7 (UNI) Causing a setback to the students passed out Board Exams in the state, Gujarat High Court today stayed the decision taken by Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) directing the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) to supply the certified copies of answersheets to Class XII science stream students under Right to Information (RTI) act.

Justice Ravi R Tripathi today stayed the directive issued by the GIC in this regard following an application moved by GSHSEB challenging the decision under RTI act.

In their application, they contended that if GIC's order was implemented, it would lead to worst scenarios and would be cumbersome to the board to provide certified copies of anshwer sheets.

The Board has opposed the Commission's order on the ground that the Board is already showing papers under the ''Avlokan'' scheme, introduced by GSHSEB, for more than a decade ago. It allows lakhs of students to apply for re-evaluation of their answersheets.

Under this scheme, students or their parents are allowed to verify their marks and answersheets after paying a fee.

The GSHSEB had vehemently opposed GIC order stating that it would lead to a virtual collapse of the examination system and delay results.

The board said the process of providing photocopied answer sheets would be cumbersome. Besides, it would go against the Supreme Court's order of declaring results by June 10 of every year and providing marksheets by June 15.

If all students apply for access to answersheets, the Board will have to keep more than two crore photocopies of all subjects in the state.

Earlier, the education experts, students and their parents had welcomed the June 4 order of the Commission, saying that this order will help create a transparent and responsible examination system.

UNI