A view of Delhi High Court, in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
The Delhi High Court has recently ordered in favour of a Class 12 student whose school had mistakenly removed Biology from his subject list and replaced it with Physical Education.
The court, in its January 24 order, permitted Master Tanshul, appear for biology examination on the upcoming All India Senior School Certificate Examination 2025, also called Class 12 Board Exams.
Master Tanshul, represented by advocate Abhishek. K. Pathak, argued that his client had opted for English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics as his core subjects, aligning with his goal of pursuing a medical career.
Mr. Pathak said in April 2024, Master Tanshul requested a subject modification, making Mathematics his additional subject and adding Hindi Vocal Music as his fifth core subject.
The school assured that the change would be made once the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) portal is opened. He submitted that in September 2024, while making subject modifications, the school inadvertently replaced Biology with Physical Education thus removing Biology from his core subjects.
Mr. Pathak said the clerical error was discovered on October 02, 2024, but by then, the CBSE portal had been closed.
Soon, Master Tanshul submitted a rectification form through his mother, and the school requested a correction from CBSE on October 10, 2024. After seven days, CBSE sought additional documents, but due to an oversight by the school, they were not submitted on time which were later on submitted on January 04, 2025.
Mr Pathakd submitted that the student waited for CBSE to reopen its correction portal, but as of mid-January 2025, it had not been opened. He said that the practical exams are scheduled to begin on January 28, 2025, and his client would only be allowed to appear in the subjects currently listed, excluding Biology.
CBSE’s counsel submits that enough opportunity was given to the school to “rectify / modify the choice of subjects which the school has not done”. The CBSE’s counsel submits that any order at this stage would disturb the entire examination schedule.
The court, however, ordered CBSE to let Master Tanshul appear for biology examination on the dates scheduled adding that the order “shall also not be taken as a precedent by the other students”.
Published – February 01, 2025 02:57 pm IST