New Delhi | Calling it the "dire need of today's scenario", the Central Information Commission has recommended that the CBSE introduce a Standard Operating Procedure governing the timelines for providing the marks or answer sheets on the request of students.

The recommendation came while deciding an appeal by a Class 12 student who sought her assessment records used for preparing the 2021 board examination results after the examination was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The appellant alleged that errors in the assessment process caused her "mental agony and depression", for which she had to undergo therapy.

Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi observed, "It is the dire need of today's scenario that CBSE should introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing the timelines for submission/providing the marks or answer sheet on the request of students."

The Central Information Commission (CIC) further said, "This will be an effective step to avoid any unwarranted situations of this nature of hardship as faced by the Appellant in this matter, is likely to affect the young minds."

It accordingly "strongly recommends" under Section 25(5) of the RTI Act that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) formulate the SOP and ensure that "such policy related information be disclosed on their official website".

A copy of the order has also been marked to the CBSE secretary for necessary action, while the First Appellate Authority has been directed to file a compliance report within four weeks.

On the appellant's grievance, the commission observed that "the denial of Appellant's own assessment marks in whatever format it may be by the CPIO (Central Public Information Officer) goes against the spirit of the RTI Act, 2005."

It noted that although the student's challenge to her assessment is pending before the high court, the CPIO "ought to have addressed the concern of the Appellant" by providing information relating to her own assessment after redacting details of other candidates exempt from disclosure under the RTI Act.

The CIC directed the CBSE's CPIO to provide the appellant, free of cost, a revised reply along with the permissible information, specifically her assessment marks in the prescribed tabular format sought in the RTI application.

The appellant had sought the tabulation sheet for five subjects under CBSE's special assessment policy adopted after the cancellation of the 2021 Class 12 board examinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the hearing, she contended that she was entitled to know the basis of her assessment and that no exemption under the RTI Act barred disclosure of her own records.