Plea against CBSE grading system dismissed

The division bench upheld the single judge’s verdict,which had endorsed CBSE’s decision saying the education regulatory body had consulted the experts from the field of education before introducing the new methodology.

“This court is not an expert to judge the decision of CBSE that has been arrived at after undertaking detailed exercise. It is a policy decision relating to education,” the bench said.

Dismissing the schools’ counsel’s arguments that the CBSE decision was unconstitutional,the court said,“We are unable to persuade ourselves to accept the submission of the petitioner counsel that the circular introducing the new methodology of CBSE invites the frown of Article 14 of the Constitution of India being unreasonable and arbitrary.”

The court accepted the regulatory body’s reasoning for introduction of grading system saying CBSE had intended to make the system more effective. “The whole endeavour has been to improve the system of education and reduce the load on the students and to make the system more effective and productive in line with the global trend and the requirement of 21st century,” the court said.

CBSE had in September 2009 introduced the grading system,abolishing the board examinations for class IX and X for academic year 2009-10.