Case Note & Summary
The petitioners, Mr. Dasari Chakradhar and Mr. Shashi Kumar, were Phase III Part II (4th year) MBBS students who took supplementary examinations in October 2021 conducted by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. They had to appear for clinical/practical examinations as part of their course. Their grievance was that the examiners appointed by the University violated the Guidelines for the Conduct of Clinical Examinations for MBBS examinations - October 2020. Specifically, the petitioners alleged that the examiners did not follow the prescribed procedure for conducting the clinical exams, which affected the valuation of their practical answer books. The court considered the short grievance and found that the Guidelines were indeed violated. The court noted that the examiners acted in violation of the Guidelines, which required a specific method of conducting clinical examinations. As a result, the valuation of the practical answer books was vitiated. The court allowed the writ petitions and quashed the valuation of the practical answer books for the subjects 'Surgery' (in WP 1120/2022) and 'Pediatrics' (in WP 1160/2022). The court directed the respondent-University to get the practical answer books revalued by different examiners, strictly in accordance with the Guidelines. The court also directed that the revaluation be completed within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of the order. The decision was based on the principle that examination guidelines must be strictly followed to ensure fairness and transparency in the evaluation process.
Headnote
A) Education Law - Examination - Violation of Guidelines - Guidelines for the Conduct of Clinical Examinations for MBBS examinations - October 2020 - Petitioners, Phase III Part II MBBS students, challenged valuation of practical answer books in Surgery and Pediatrics subjects on ground that examiners acted in violation of the Guidelines - Court found that the Guidelines were not followed, as the examiners did not conduct the clinical examination as per the prescribed procedure - Held that the valuation was vitiated and directed revaluation by different examiners (Paras 1-5).
Issue of Consideration
Whether the valuation of practical answer books in MBBS supplementary examinations conducted in October 2021 by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences was vitiated due to violation of the Guidelines for the Conduct of Clinical Examinations for MBBS examinations - October 2020.
Final Decision
The court allowed the writ petitions, quashed the valuation of the practical answer books in Surgery (WP 1120/2022) and Pediatrics (WP 1160/2022), and directed the respondent-University to get the practical answer books revalued by different examiners strictly in accordance with the Guidelines for the Conduct of Clinical Examinations for MBBS examinations - October 2020, within four weeks.
Law Points
- Examination guidelines must be strictly followed
- Revaluation by different examiners when guidelines violated
- Writ jurisdiction under Articles 226 and 227 of Constitution of India
