Andhra Pradesh High Court - Amravati
Neelam Mohan Yeshwanth vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh on 24 August, 2021
Author: U.Durga Prasad Rao
Bench: U.Durga Prasad Rao
HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE U.DURGA PRASAD RAO
Writ Petition No.16622 of 2021
ORDER:
The petitioner seeks a writ of mandamus declaring that the petitioner deserves for re-evaluation of his answer scripts of Human Anatomy Paper-I and Paper-II theory subject of 1st year MBBS exam held in April/May 2021 (Hall Ticket No.19M102012116).
2. The petitioner's case succinctly is thus:
The petitioner appeared for First Year MBBS examination held in April/May 2021 with Hall Ticket No.19M102012116. The examination was conducted by 2nd respondent University. However, there was a large scale violation of the regulation passed by the Executive Council for digital evaluation of answer scripts. In the results announced by 2nd respondent University, the petitioner got failed in Human Anatomy theory subject where he was awarded 86 marks out of minimum required 100 marks. In Human Anatomy subject he was awarded 38 marks in Paper-I and 48 marks in Paper-II. It is submitted that as per the new guidelines for the scheme of University examinations 2019-20 adopted by 2nd respondent University, in subjects that have two papers, the learner must secure 40% marks in each of the papers with minimum 50% of marks in aggregate (both papers together) to pass. Immediately he approached the 2nd respondent University by submitting an application for re- totaling of the said subjects and in the re-totaling also, there was no change in the result. It is submitted that the petitioner is in doubt that any mistake might have occurred while 2nd respondent university in 2 digitally evaluating his answer scripts by the examiners for Human Anatomy Paper-I and Paper-II theory subject because there is probability of omissions and commissions, which would have resulted in improper valuation of his answer sheets. On 25.06.2021, the petitioner approached the 2nd respondent University and submitted an application under the RTI Act for physical verification of his answer scripts. After verification on 04.08.2021, it was found that there were no marks or remarks to show that his answer script was evaluated. Though the 2nd respondent University has adapted digital evaluation, there were no signs of usage of the digital tools to show that his answer scripts were corrected or evaluated. The petitioner also noticed that there were no tick marks or remarks on the evaluated answer papers shown to him by 2nd respondent University. It is further contended that though the petitioner has written the examination well, but he was declared as "failed" in Human Anatomy theory subject with a lesser margin of pass marks because of the improper evaluation done by 2nd respondent. The petitioner apprehends that there was a gross irregularity in the evaluation of the answer scripts of the candidates. The petitioner came to know that the students of his ilk have filed batch of writ petitions and they were allowed and High Court of A.P. passed orders for re-evaluation in terms of the guidelines issued for digital evaluation of the answer scripts.
Hence, the instant writ petition.3
3. The 2nd respondent filed counter and opposed the writ petition inter alia contending thus:
The petitioner has taken examination for MBBS First Year in April 2021 and the results were pronounced in June 2021 and he was declared as failed in one subject i.e., Human Anatomy. Thereafter, the petitioner applied for re-totaling and after re-totaling there was no change in the result and the same was placed in the University website on 27.07.2021. It is further submitted that the petitioner has made an application dated 25.06.2021 under the RTI Act and requested for verification of his answer scripts and was permitted for personal verification of answer scripts on 04.08.2021. The petitioner attended for personal verification of his answer scripts on 04.08.2021. After verification, he acknowledged that his answer scripts were valued by the examiners, vide acknowledgement dated 04.08.2021. The marks were evaluated as per the MCI norms and guidelines. The respondents thus prayed to dismiss the writ petition.
4. Heard Sri J.Krishna Praneeth, learned counsel for petitioner, and Sri G.Vijay Kumar, Standing Counsel for 2nd respondent.
5. The main plank of the argument of learned counsel for petitioner is that the answer sheets of the petitioner were not at all evaluated by the examiners which is writ large from the fact that in spite of the 2nd respondent/University providing them technical tools for evaluation like stylus marks, tick marks, 'X' marks and providing training through 4 M/s.Globarena Technologies Private Limited, Hyderabad in digital evaluation of the answer sheets, no such marks or comments were mentioned on the answer sheet by the concerned examiners. Learned counsel would vehemently contend that expect mentioning the marks in a separate 'Script Marks Report', the examiners have not mentioned any relevant comments or put tick marks on the digital answer scripts. Therefore, the answer sheets were not evaluated at all. He relied upon the decision in Dr. P.Kishore Kumar v. State of Andhra Pradesh [2016 (6) ALT 408] wherein this Court deprecated the action of the examiners in not placing any remarks on the digital answer sheets relating to PG Medical examination and observed that it would amount to non-evaluation and directed the 2nd respondent/University to re-evaluate the answer sheets. Learned counsel sought for similar order in this case.
6. In oppugnation, learned Standing Counsel for 2nd respondent would argue that for a fair and transparent evaluation, digital evaluation was introduced whereby answer scripts will be evaluated by four examiners independently and the marks awarded by them will be clubbed and average marks will be taken, basing on which, results will be announced. He would submit that the services of M/s.Globarena Technologies Private Limited, Hyderabad were engaged to provide technical assistance and training to the examiners in evaluating the answer scripts. Further, the said agency has provided tools for making remarks on the answer sheets. The stylus tool will assist the examiners to mention (√) marks or 'X' marks, underlines or comments etc., on the 5 answer sheets. However, such mentioning of the remarks on the digital answer scripts is purely the discretion of the concerned examiners, but not a mandatory rule of the University. Therefore, mere non-mentioning of the remarks on the answer scripts cannot be treated as non-evaluation of the answer scripts at all. After the evaluation, the examiners shall indicate the marks awarded to each question on separate sheet called 'Script Marks Report'. Learned counsel would further admit that in this case retotalling was done at the request of the petitioner. Learned counsel, however, fairly admitted that in the re-evaluation sheet also there were no evaluation symbols. He thus prayed to dismiss the writ petition, since the petitioner failed after the re-evaluation also.
7. The point for consideration is whether the examiners have scrupulously followed the guidelines of the University as well as the observations made in the earlier decisions in the process of evaluation of the answer sheets of the petitioner and if not, whether the writ petition deserved to be allowed?
8. Point: It should be noted that today on the direction of this Court, the Controller of Examinations and Technicians, who are conversant with the digital evaluation of the answer scripts, appeared in person before this Court along with Memorandum of marks.
On perusal of the answer script, it must be said, they do not contain the marks like (√) mark, 'X' mark, underlines or any other digital remarks. Even the marks granted to each question were also not 6 mentioned on the answer sheets, but they were appended on a separate sheet. It is no doubt that the Standing Counsel would argue that the digital tools such as Wacom, stylus, etc., were provided to the examiners only to enable them to mention the digital remarks at their discretion, but however, no direction was given to them to invariably mention the remarks on the answer sheet. However, this argument does not hold water in view of the earlier decision in Dr. P.Kishore Kumar's case (1 supra), wherein it was observed thus:
26. A careful scrutiny of the above excerpts discloses that except entering marks in the sheet appended on the top of an answer script, there is no trace of evaluation of answer sheet. (Emphasis supplied).
27. The reply of 2nd respondent in this behalf is that all the Examiners have done online valuation and the marks scored or comments are entered in Script Marks Report. This reply does not satisfy the requirement of evaluation of answer scripts. (See Aditya Bandopadya's case MANU/SC/0932/2011: (2011) 8 SCC 497 (supra)).
28. xxx It is admitted that in the answer sheets produced in the batch of cases, the scanned answer scripts do not bear the evaluation marks/remarks of Examiners or the marks allotted by the Examiner to each question. It is not clear whether on account of oral instructions issued by 2nd respondent not to write on the scanned answer scripts, a few of the Examiners have not shown their evaluation. But an answer sheet with online correction i.e., remarks of Examiner with the available software is produced. The possibility of just filling up the Script Marks Report, even if done (this Court is not doubting the bona fides of Examiners), facility for verification, evaluation with compatible technology must be put in place or used by the Examiners. But the marks have been entered in Script Marks Report. Normally, the presumption is marks are allotted on evaluation. The primary evidence to discharge onus of evaluation is by relying on evaluated answers scripts, and not the data entered on a separate Script Marks Report.
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30. The online evaluation as illustrated above when is pointed out to the representative of service provider, the representative has fairly admitted that the scanned answer sheets produced in the batch of cases show no trace of evaluation by the Examiners. It is pertinent to remark that the utilization of available technology such as Abode, PDF format, Wacom, Stylus etc., would have certainly helped the University to achieve the objectives which it wanted to achieve by online evaluation. Use of available tools could have furnished complete, accurate and reliable 7 Diagnostic Reports. At this juncture, the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Aditya Bandopadyaya's case MANU/SC/0932/2011 :
(2011) 8 SCC 497 (supra) is taken note of. The clinical examination of a patient is the preferred option of Doctors. However, of late, more and more Diagnostic Reports are preferred for accuracy. The accomplishment of accuracy of a Diagnostic Report is possible with tools and technicians.
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33. Hence, the summary and conclusions are as follows:
"(a) the online evaluation of answer scripts for the examinations held in May/June, 2016 according to the stand taken by the 2nd respondent in para 2 of the counter-affidavit is in continuation of a pilot project introduced in October, 2015 and requires updating tools and skills of Examiners.
(b) The expertise and technical compatibility of Examiners at respective centres is a matter required to be re-examined by the University and compatibility is archived by undertaking demo classes.
(c) Consistency in the evaluation i.e., writing remarks by the Examiner on the scanned/answer scripts could not be shown in the answer sheets. Hence, keeping in perspective the technology uniform written instructions to Examiners could be issued.
(d) The legitimate expectation of a student is that the answers written are at least looked at and appreciated for evaluation. In the case on hand, with the illustration given above, this Court is of the view that Script Answers Reports are treated as evaluation of answer scripts and no material is placed to satisfy that the evaluation of answer scripts, in fact, had taken place and Script Marks Report is the summary of such evaluation."(Emphasis supplied).
This Court categorically observed that the utilization of the available technology such as Adobe, PDF, Wacom, Stylus etc., would have certainly helped the University to achieve the objectives which it wanted to achieve by online evaluation. More precisely, this Court observed that the use of available tools would have furnished complete, actual, reliable and diagnostic reports. This court thus categorically held that it is the legitimate expectation of the students that the answers written are atleast looked at and appreciated for evaluation and in the case on hand, the script answer reports are treated as evaluation of answer scripts and no 8 material is placed to satisfy that the evaluation of answer scripts, in fact, had taken place and script marks report is summary of such evaluation.
9. Needlesss to emphasize the above judgment applies with all fours to the case on hand and as in the instant case also not ones but twice the evaluation was done without following the due procedure. Therefore, the writ petition deserves to be allowed.
10. In the result, this Writ Petition is allowed and 2nd respondent is directed to get the petitioner's answer scripts in Human Anatomy Paper- I and Paper-II theory subject of 1st year MBBS exam held in April/May 2021 (Hall Ticket No.19M102012116) evaluated once again as per the prevalent MCI norms by identifying two (2) fresh examiners. Such examiners shall mention their remarks as well as the marks awarded for each answer clearly on the uploaded answer scripts by using digital tools. The corrected answer sheets must be preserved for future review. The entire exercise shall be completed within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order by 2nd respondent. No costs.
As a sequel, interlocutory applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.
_________________________ U.DURGA PRASAD RAO, J 24.08.2021 MVA