Delhi High Court directs University of Delhi to re-compute marks in LLB Entrance

In yet another case (Ram KumarJha v. University of Delhi & Ors.) of wrong answer key in an entrance exam, Delhi High Court High Court on Monday has directed the University of Delhi, respondent, for re-computing the score of the petitioner-student, Ram Kumar Jha. The petitioner, who had appeared for the entrance test (2013-14) of Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, was not satisfied with his result. On obtaining his answer sheets and copies of questions via an RTI application, the petitioner noted that answer key in respect of two questions were not correct.

(Image Source: University of Delhi Website)

Consequently, the petitioner approached the High Court for directing the respondent to rectify the answer and to take the admission of the petitioner. The High Court, while accepting the contentions of the petitioner, held that it would be failing to discharge its duty if it does not correct answers which are patently wrong:

                                       “It is  true  that ordinarily  the  Courts should  not  interfered  with  the answers  notified  by  the  examiners  but,  where  the  Court  finds  that  the answer  contained  in  the  answer  key  in  respect  of  a  particular  question cannot even be  said one of the possible correct and appropriate answers, not to speak of the most appropriate answer, the Court would be failing in its duty, if it  does not correct such patently wrong answer and leaves a wronged  candidate  remediless,  particularly  when  the  question  under consideration relates to a field of law.”

Though the law is this regard is settled, I have posted this update because of the importance of the matter. The High Court, in this case, ultimately directed the respondent to compute and declare the result of the petitioner within one week of the date of judgment.

Some important Supreme Court decisions which were referred by the Delhi High Court:

Kanpur University, through Vice-Chancellor & Ors. vs. Samir Gupta and Ors.  (1983) 4 SCC 309 – Court, in this case, held that it would be unfair to penalise the students for not giving  an answer which accords with the key answer.

Manish  Ujwal  and  Ors. vs. Maharishi  Dayanand  Saraswati University  and  Ors.  (2005) 13 SCC  744 - the  student  community  could  not  be  made  to  suffer  on  account  of errors committed by  the University