CIC asks CBSE to frame SOP for timely sharing of marks, answer sheets under RTI

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to establish a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that sets clear timelines for providing students with marks, assessment records, and answer sheets when requested.

The recommendation aims to improve transparency and ensure students receive academic records without avoidable delays.

The direction was issued while the Commission was hearing an appeal filed by a Class 12 student seeking access to the assessment records used to determine her 2021 board examination results.

That year, CBSE canceled the Class 12 board exams because of the COVID-19 pandemic and introduced a special assessment policy to award final scores.

Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi said introducing an SOP for the timely release of marks and answer sheets is "the dire need of today's scenario."

The Commission observed that a clearly defined process would reduce uncertainty for students and help avoid situations where delayed access to records causes unnecessary hardship.

Exercising its powers under Section 25(5) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the CIC recommended that CBSE prepare the SOP and publish it on its official website to promote greater transparency.

In her appeal, the student alleged that errors in the assessment process had caused significant mental distress and depression, requiring her to undergo therapy.

She argued that she was entitled to know how her final scores had been calculated and maintained that the RTI Act did not exempt CBSE from disclosing her own assessment records.

The student had specifically requested the tabulation sheets for five subjects prepared under CBSE's special assessment policy adopted after the cancellation of the 2021 Class 12 board examinations.

The Commission held that refusing a student access to her own assessment records was inconsistent with the objectives of the RTI Act, 2005.

Although the student's legal challenge to her assessment is pending before the High Court, the CIC said the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) should have responded by providing her assessment-related information after masking details of other candidates protected under the RTI Act.

Accordingly, the Commission directed the CPIO to issue a revised response free of cost and provide the student's assessment marks in the tabular format requested in her RTI application.

The CIC has forwarded a copy of its order to the CBSE Secretary for appropriate action. It has also instructed the First Appellate Authority to submit a compliance report within four weeks.

The Commission said that adopting a formal SOP for sharing marks, answer sheets, and assessment records could make the examination system more transparent and accountable while protecting students' right to access information in a timely manner.