Information Commission Asks CBSE To Allow Revaluation After RTI Access

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to provide copies of examination answer scripts sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by charging fees strictly as prescribed under the RTI Rules, 2012. It has also recommended that CBSE amend its May 19, 2025 circular that restricts students from seeking revaluation after obtaining answer sheets through RTI.

Traditionally, students who believe their examination results contain errors can use mechanisms such as marks verification, obtaining photocopies of answer scripts and revaluation, where permitted by the examination board. They may also approach institutional grievance mechanisms and, in cases involving serious procedural issues, seek judicial remedies. The RTI framework provides another route for students to access their evaluated answer books and examine how their responses were assessed.

The CIC's decision followed an RTI application filed by a Class 10 CBSE student, who sought copies of his answer sheets citing the high cost of the regular re-evaluation process. The student had also raised concerns over the difficulty of the Mathematics Standard Set 3 paper, moderation policy and deductions in marks.

According to the application, photocopies for five subjects cost ₹2,500, while re-verification involved another ₹2,500 and revaluation was charged at ₹100 per question. The total expense could potentially reach ₹10,000, prompting the student to seek his answer scripts through RTI.

CBSE provided the requested answer books by email after receiving the prescribed fee. The student later raised questions about blank pages, moderation and evaluation. During the CIC hearing, CBSE referred to its May 19, 2025 circular, which allowed students to obtain answer-book copies under RTI but stated that verification or revaluation could not be sought under the Act.

The CIC objected to this restriction, observing that barring revaluation merely because a student obtained an answer sheet through RTI was against the spirit of the RTI Act and Rules. It noted that Section 22 gives the RTI Act overriding effect over inconsistent provisions in other laws or instruments.

The commission also cited the Supreme Court's April 11, 2019 judgment in ICSI vs Paras Jain, which held that remedies available under institutional guidelines and the RTI framework are not mutually exclusive.

The CIC therefore directed CBSE to charge only the photocopying fees prescribed under the RTI Rules and recommended that it amend the May 19 circular under Section 25(5) to align it with the RTI Act.