Class XI student wins right to see her answer scripts ;CIC has asked state education board to furnish Bhavisha Oza with copies of her second semester answer sheets within 10 days following an RTI plea.

Ahmedabad Mirror: Ahmedabad: Monday, February 11, 2013.

Sources in the board said that a few cases related to the inspection of answer sheets
are pending in the High Court

The central information commissioner has asked state education board to show a student copies of her second semester answer sheets following an RTI application by her.

Dissatisfied with the marks she received in mathematics, physics and chemistry, Bhavisha Oza, a standard 11 student of Sharda Mandir School in Paldi, filed an application with Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) seeking an inspection of her answer scripts.

As the board did not respond within the stipulated 48 hours, she approached the central information commissioner (CIC) which asked GSEB to furnish her with copies of the answer sheets within 10 days.

Bhavisha, a resident of Jivraj Park, now hopes to see her OMR sheet. “I want to see my answer sheets in the three subjects. I had attempted the papers quite well. I had even calculated my marks and was sure to score high. However, actual marks were much less.

So we decided to go to the school and request the officials to show us the sheet. However, because of their rules, they refused to entertain us. We tried our best and did many rounds of the education board as well.

However, all that was futile. Finally, we had to take recourse of RTI,” said Bhavisha who is now contented with the development. As per the judgment of the Supreme Court, the answer sheets have to be shown by the examining bodies to the candidates concerned under the RTI Act subject to certain restrictions.

Gujarat CIC D Rajagopalan has ordered GSHSEB to furnish certified copies of evaluated answer sheets and model answers as per Bhavisha’s request for information within 10 days from the date of receipt of the order.

Meanwhile board Deputy Chairman H K Patel said, “We will examine RTI decision and take appropriate decision.” Sources in the board said that a few cases related to the inspection of answer sheets are pending in the High Court.