By Chandan Goswami

​The Delhi High Court on May 24 directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to not change its marks moderation policy for this year. The decision came as a big relief for CBSE students, though with the examination already over and results due any day now, it is not clear how the board can revisit all exam papers and recalibrate marks given.

Union Education Minister Prakash Javadekar on May 25 tried to assuage fears of millions of schoolchildren about their future, saying that the Class 12 results will be declared on time. The minister has been quoted in the media as saying: “CBSE results will be declared on time, the date will be told by CBSE. No need to worry about the court’s order, justice will be done for all.”

The CBSE has a policy of mark moderation that gives an extra edge to the students enabling them to score more than 95 percent marks in any subject. The Delhi HC on May 24 directed the CBSE to go ahead with the marks moderation policy and that the decision to stop using the marks moderation policy should only come into effect from the year 2018.

The CBSE also clarified that it has made written suggestions to Delhi University stating that relaxation be given to the students following the new no moderation rule by CBSE.

The Delhi HC told the CBSE that doing away with the old moderation policy with immediate effect is unfair and irresponsible. The petitioners also argued that many states have decided to implement the policy only from 2018 and hence the students of those states will fare better (in advanced studies) than the others. The students are much relieved by this decision of the Delhi HC but the moderation policy in itself was an unfair one.