The Punjab & Haryana High Court has fined a school Rs.30,000 for an error that led to a Class X board student in Haryana receiving zero marks due to a mix-up between two students with identical names. This mistake prevented the affected student from sitting for their Class XII board exams in 2021 due to the school's negligence.

In instructing the CBSE to provide a new mark sheet for the student, Justice Vikas Behal emphasized that the school's error caused not only harm to the petitioner but also resulted in unnecessary litigation expenses for the respondent-Board. This occurred despite the Board having no fault in the matter.

Additionally, it was observed that the school's "casual approach" was apparent as they opted not to aid the Court despite being served notice. Their failure to rebut the assertions made in the petition further highlighted this lack of engagement.

As the petitioner clarified that no compensation was sought, the Court, in response to the school's negligence, imposed a Rs. 30,000 fine and directed the school to remit this amount to the Board.

During the Court proceedings, a student filed a plea requesting the rectification of her exam results and the issuance of a corrected detailed marks certificate. The petitioner highlighted that despite sitting for the exams, she received a zero mark, while another student who shared the same name, but had left the school, was credited with her marks instead.

Despite the petitioner's request to rectify the marks, the board informed her that the school hadn't submitted the revised marks within the specified timeframe on the online portal. Despite the petitioner's repeated appeals, the school persisted in claiming that the application had been sent to the board but failed to take any subsequent action.

Considering the submissions, the Court observed that, "the petitioner is stated to have cleared her 11th class examination and could not give 12th class examination on account of the mistake of the school and in case the necessary directions are not passed in favour of the petitioner, then her future would be jeopardized."

Based on the circumstances outlined, the Court nullified the Board's decision to dismiss the petitioner's request for mark rectification. Instead, the Court instructed the Board to issue a new result for the petitioner.

Case Title: Riya v. State of Haryana and others

CWP-6483-2023