The Times of India; Paul John & Ragini Bharadwaj; Thursday, August 11,2011.
Ahmedabad: On June 4, 2007, 103 class X students from across Gujarat had won a major battle against the GSHSEB after the Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) allowed students access to their answer sheets. State chief information commissioner R N Das had said that copies of answer sheets should be provided only to the students who had applied for them or to their parents or guardians and not to any third person. The decision of GIC was stayed by the high court four days later, dashing the hopes of thousands of students.
Then, the suicide of a class X student who was not satisfied with the GSHSEB evaluation led more than 4,000 students from across Gujarat to file RTI applications. The students sought access to the key answer sheets given to evaluators as well as to their own answer sheets. Nearly 103 students from Ahmedabad schools had invoked the ‘Life and Liberty’ clause, which is enshrined in Section 7(1) of the RTI Act to secure the answer sheets. The GSHSEB had refused to entertain the applications.
The GIC held that the exemption under section 8 (1) (e) would not apply to the disclosure of answer sheets. Das also stated that the board should take utmost care that the identities of examiners, co-coordinators and moderators were not disclosed to those seeking copies of answer sheets. Das had stated earlier in his order that the examination-conducting bodies cannot retain the evaluated answer sheets under any fiduciary capacity. Four years later, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court also held the same view.
“If the board claims that human errors in checking answer sheets amount to just 4 per cent, then this number turns out to be 40,000 students of the of the 10 lakh students who take these exams,” said Harinesh Pandya, a member of a city-based NGO, Janpath. “The students have to suffer because of errant examiners.”
Pankti Jog, the convenor of the Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pehel which had led the 103 students’ campaign said that the body had received numerous calls on its RTI helpline. “It was then that we asked students from across Gujarat to file RTI applications demanding answer sheets,” Jog said. “The SC ruling will come as a blessing as it will bring in transparency in the evaluation system of the board.” Jog said that even competitive exams administered by various universities would have to design a transparent examination system. “We sincerely hope that with the new RTI rule, we will not witness suicides of any more children,” Jog said.
Then, the suicide of a class X student who was not satisfied with the GSHSEB evaluation led more than 4,000 students from across Gujarat to file RTI applications. The students sought access to the key answer sheets given to evaluators as well as to their own answer sheets. Nearly 103 students from Ahmedabad schools had invoked the ‘Life and Liberty’ clause, which is enshrined in Section 7(1) of the RTI Act to secure the answer sheets. The GSHSEB had refused to entertain the applications.
The GIC held that the exemption under section 8 (1) (e) would not apply to the disclosure of answer sheets. Das also stated that the board should take utmost care that the identities of examiners, co-coordinators and moderators were not disclosed to those seeking copies of answer sheets. Das had stated earlier in his order that the examination-conducting bodies cannot retain the evaluated answer sheets under any fiduciary capacity. Four years later, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court also held the same view.
“If the board claims that human errors in checking answer sheets amount to just 4 per cent, then this number turns out to be 40,000 students of the of the 10 lakh students who take these exams,” said Harinesh Pandya, a member of a city-based NGO, Janpath. “The students have to suffer because of errant examiners.”
Pankti Jog, the convenor of the Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pehel which had led the 103 students’ campaign said that the body had received numerous calls on its RTI helpline. “It was then that we asked students from across Gujarat to file RTI applications demanding answer sheets,” Jog said. “The SC ruling will come as a blessing as it will bring in transparency in the evaluation system of the board.” Jog said that even competitive exams administered by various universities would have to design a transparent examination system. “We sincerely hope that with the new RTI rule, we will not witness suicides of any more children,” Jog said.
This is indeed a blessing from the apex court. Using Right to Information Act, students will be able to determine where they actually made mistakes. This will definitely usher in transparency and make evaluators more responsible.
Kaazvin Kapadia | CLASS X, PRAKASH SCHOOL
Kaazvin Kapadia | CLASS X, PRAKASH SCHOOL
The process of re-tabulation of answer sheets under Avlokan scheme was a weak and slow process. The RTI Act will make it easier for many students to access both the model key answer sheets a student’s own answer sheet. This way, students can understand how they have been assessed.
Saurabh Agarwal | CLASS X, RACHANA SCHOOL
Saurabh Agarwal | CLASS X, RACHANA SCHOOL
This is one of the best judgments passed by the Supreme Court. And every student needs to be aware of it. But then, the government will have to clarify as to how it will help class X students who are being evaluated under a new grading system from this year.
Chhavi Damani | CLASS XI, PRAKASH SCHOOL
Chhavi Damani | CLASS XI, PRAKASH SCHOOL
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