ARUNDHATI SAHOO Vs. BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Of late it has come to be noticed that after publication of results of examinations conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Orissa (O.P. No. 1), large number of examinees have been approaching this Court alleging, inter alia, commission of errors in the evaluation process by the examiners. In many cases, this Court on examination has found that such complaints are not without any basis. The opposite parties are in charge of conducting the High School Certificate Examinations and Teachers' Certificate Examinations and other examinations. Opp. party No. 1 being a statutory authority is under an obligation to ensure correct evaluation process and elimination of possible errors committed by the examiners on account of their negligence, remisness, indifference or casual -ness. The Manual of Central Valuation compiled by the opp. party No. 1 deals, inter alia, with the duties and responsibilities of Chief Examiners, Assistant Examiners and Scrutinisers. The instructions contained therein are meant for compliance and not for disobedience. In the present day of heavy competition, a fraction of percentage can make or mar career of a student. As such, being duty bound the opposite parties should rise to the occasion and allay apprehension in the mind of an examinee that his/her answer paper was not fairly examined and evaluated by the examiner.

(2.) WITH the aforementioned prefatory observation, we may now look at the writ application by which the petitioner seeks for a direction to revaluate her answer paper, i. e. Paper -II (Principles and Problems of Education and School Organisation) relating to the Teachers' Certificate Examination, 1995 conducted by opp. party No. 1.

(3.) THE opposite parties have filed counter affidavit contending that petitioner's answer paper, i. e. Paper -II P.S.O. was placed before the 'Checking of addition Committee' which after verification did not find any mistake in the addition of marks. It was further stated in the counter affidavit that there is no provision for revaluation of answer papers.