The Madurai bench of Madras High Court has ordered the CBSE, the official examination conducting a body of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2018 Exam, to award 196 grace marks to the students who had attempted NEET 2018 in the Tamil language since 49 questions in the Tamil question paper had been mistranslated. The court has asked for 4 grace marks to be given per mistranslated question which is 196 marks for 49 questions. The court has also ordered CBSE to release a revised rank list based on this order within two weeks.
The Madurai bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to award 196 grace marks to all candidates who took the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) in the Tamil language. The CBSE has been asked to revise the NEET rank list in 2 weeks.
The decision was taken after it was found that 49 questions in the examination for medical admissions were wrongly translated. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in this regard had been filed in the Madras High Court seeking compensatory marks for Tamil medium students, citing flaws in the Tamil medium question paper.
Earlier on July 6, the Madras HC had lashed out at the CBSE saying that it was being autocratic in the matter related to the errors. It said that despite knowing that a PIL on the matter was filed and it was due for hearing, the CBSE had released the results. “Why did they do so?”, the court asked.
G B Ram Prakash, founder of NGO had pointed out that there were 60 errors in 49 questions and demanded 196 grace marks for students who had appeared for the said examination. Taking cognizance of the errors, Madras HC has ordered CBSE to comply with the request and award 196 grace marks.
The decision to grant 196 grace marks to 24,500 candidates would have a far-reaching impact on students all over. With 196 grace marks, there is bound to be massive shifts in the NEET 2018 Ranks. More updates on the same and CBSE’s reply is awaited. NEET 2018 Counselling for various states and All India Quota has already begun. Changes in Rank lists might have a cascading effect on counseling as well.