New Delhi, April 24
This news may come as a heartbreak to the thousands of students appearing in various competitive as well as academic examinations in India.

The Central Information Commission has ruled against the disclosure of answer sheets under the Right to Information Act.

“With regard to public examinations conducted by institutions established by the Constitution like UPSC or institutions established by any enactment of Parliament like CBSE, Staff Selection Commission, universities, etc, the disclosure of answer sheets would result in rendering the system unworkable,” said the CIC in its full bench decision.

The bench, headed by chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, was hearing RTI appeals against five public authorities, seeking disclosure of answer sheets of different examinations.

“It is a matter of common knowledge that parents and students are never satisfied with their assessment. Every University and Board has a mechanism for re-valuation which can be made use of by those who have genuine apprehensions about the fairness of the system,” the CIC observed.

The Commission, which accepted CBSE’s plea that such disclosures would tender the system unworkable, recommended introducing a system where evaluated answer sheets are given back to students as a regular practice.

In contrast, it however held that public authorities who conducted examinations for filling up posts – either by promotion or recruitment – should disclose such answer sheets as part of a “general rule.”

“Insofar as the departmental examinees are concerned or proceedings of departmental promotional committees are concerned, the disclosure of answer sheets not only of the examinees but also of other candidates may bring in fairness and neutrality,” said the CIC in its decision.

Besides CBSE, the RTI appeals were filed against Lok Sabha Secretariat, Delhi Jal Board, Diesel Loco Workshop (of North West Railways) and DDA – seeking disclosure of evaluated answer sheets relating to their recruitment and departmental examinations. — PTI