1 extra hr to dyslexic student to write AIEEE: HC rules

Also,the High Court has suggested that the CBSE and the Central Counselling Board (CCB) grant similar facilities to all such students appearing for the exam in the country.

After hearing a petition filed by Chandigarh resident Pranjay Jain,Justice Permod Kohli observed,“I direct that the petitioner should be provided one hour extra time in AIEEE for each paper. However,this permission shall remain subject to (the) outcome of the writ petition.”

Justice Kohli added: “Mr Harsh Aggarwal (counsel for CBSE) has expressed his concern about similarly situated persons,who are appearing in AIEEE throughout the country. In view of the matter,it may be observed that the CCB may consider granting similar facilities to all dyslexic students,who are appearing in AIEEE test.”

Jain,a dyslexic student,had moved HC,seeking extra time and permission to take a scribe along in the examination hall. The HC agreed to award extra time to the student but turned down the plea to have a scribe.

“Since it is an objective test,no scribe is required. However,in view of the disorder with which the petitioner is suffering,I am of the considered opinion that extra time as per the guidelines framed by the CBSE for 10+2 examination,should be given to the petitioner to provide him a fair opportunity to compete with other students,who don’t suffer from any such disability,” the court observed.

Initially,the petition was filed for the Class XII examinations. Subsequently,the HC had passed an order on March 2,2010,directing the CBSE to provide a scribe and extra time to the petitioner.

After the exams,the petitioner again approached the High Court,seeking similar relaxations for AIEEE.

The CBSE had raised various objections to the petition. One of them was that since AIEEE was a competitive exam in which thousands of students appear,the petitioner could not be given advantage over others.

In response,the court observed,“Suffice it to say that even 10+2 examination is a competitive examination and so is the position with every examination.”