CBSE

CBSE

The Nagpur bench of Bombay high courton Monday expressed deep concern over 'minor'CBSE students being unnecessarily made to suffer on account of ongoing dispute with the Maharashtra state board. A division bench comprising justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Pramod Kode sternly directed both boards to make appropriate statements in the interest of the students within a week.

The court's directives came while hearing a plea by Aggrieved Parents' Forum (APF) who challenged Maharashtra government's decision to prohibit CBSE school-assessment students from getting admission in state's junior colleges.

Earlier, Anand Parchure appearing for the state board pointed out that in the original scheme, CBSE itself mentioned that it had introduced the school-based examination in Class X for the students who don't want to change the board. He added that if they want to shift, they should be asked to clear any examination, including the supplementary one, that should be conducted and evaluated by the CBSE itself and not by the school teachers. After the judges asked him for possible ways out, he suggested about provisionally admitting such students till they clear the board exam.

When government pleader Nitin Sambre was quizzed on this possibility and whether such students would be accepted by the state board, he stated that the admissions were made by the Central Admission Committee (CAC) under centralized admission process (CAP) and he had to seek instructions regarding this.

During last hearing, the CBSE had clarified that both school and board-based examinations were equivalent and should be treated at par by other boards, and in long term it plans to do away with board-based exam.

An affidavit by CBSE assistant secretary (legal) S Dharini Arun categorically stated that internal evaluation did not undermine the legitimate, standardization and authenticity of school-based examination. Moreover, the results of both examinations were declared simultaneously and even the marklists bear resemblance.

Taking a dig at the state, CBSE strongly argued that no other board in the country has denied admission to its students who opted for school-based exam. It further contended that CBSE Std X examination is valid, legal and duly recognized by the Maharashtra Government. The affidavit informed that CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi held a meeting with state principal secretary and chief protocol officer of General Administration Department (GAD) on July 5 where it was agreed that CBSE school-based exam students would be allowed to apply for Std XI admission in state junior colleges.