SC Turns down Plea of Dyslexic Student for Permission to Use Calculator
The Supreme Court has rejection a plea moved by a dyslexic CBSE student Pranjay Jain who wanted permission to write his class XII examination using calculator, reported PTI.
“Since CBSE, an expert body, has considered and decided against use of calculator, it is not possible for us to allow your prayer,” the court was quoted as observing.
The bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) KG Balakrishnan and Justices Deepak Verma and CK Prasad agreed with CBSE lawyer who contended that there were nearly 300 students having mental deficiencies of varying degrees but it was this petitioner alone who moved the court, said report.
The bench also said that conceding Jain’s application meant granting identical relief to all such other students, said report.
The apex court said that the petitioner couldn’t complain of any bias, for according to the rules, such students are given the assistance of a person in calculation during the exams.
Also, court turned down the argument of Jain’s advocate that the CBSE rule which forbids use of calculator was violative of Article 14 (equality before law) of the Constitution, which, he argued, prohibited treating unequals with equals, said report.
It may be mentioned that Jain’s application had earlier been rejected by the CBSE for using a calculator and the Punjab and Haryana High Court had concurred with the board’s decision.
“The right to education has been recognised as a fundamental right under Article 21 (right to life) and 21A (right to education) of the Constitution. CBSE’s rejection of the request of the petitioner is illegal, unjust, unfair and arbitrary, being violative of Article 14 of the Constitution,” the petition had submitted.
