Dr NTR University Of Health Sciences vs. Dr. Yerra Trinadh And Ors. - (Supreme Court) (04 Nov 2022)

In the absence of any provision for re-evaluation, the High Court cannot order re-evaluation of the answer scripts

MANU/SC/1441/2022

Education

The University has preferred the present appeals dissatisfied with the impugned common judgment passed by the High Court, by which the Division Bench of the High Court has confirmed the common judgment passed by the learned Single Judge in Writ Petition ordering/directing the re-evaluation of the answer scripts of the respective original writ petitioners who appeared in post-graduation in diploma course in the NTR University of Health Sciences.

The short question which is posed for consideration before this Court is, “whether in the absence of any provision for re-evaluation, the High Court was justified in ordering re-evaluation after calling for the record of the answer scripts?

The High Court was not justified in calling the record of the answer scripts and then to satisfy whether there was a need for re- evaluation or not. The High Courts are calling for the answer scripts/sheets for satisfying whether there is a need for re-evaluation or not and thereafter orders/directs re-evaluation, which is wholly impermissible. Such a practice of calling for answer scripts/answer sheets and thereafter to order re-evaluation and that too in absence of any specific provision in the relevant rules for re-evaluation and that too while exercising powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is disapproved.

Even otherwise, in the present case, the University has adopted the digital evaluation which has been subsequently modified/improved and the deficiencies have been removed, which has now been approved by the High Court in the recent decision. The digital evaluation process is reported to be scrupulously followed by the University. From the affidavit filed on behalf of the University on use of digital evaluation, it appears that all precautions are being taken to have the accurate evaluation digitally. There are specific instructions and trainings to the examiners while conducting digital evaluation. It is reported that the faculty has utilised the updated software by using the tools and annotations incorporated in the software adopted by the University. In any case, in absence of any regulation for re-evaluation of the answer scripts, either in the MCI rules or in the University Rules, the High Court is not justified in ordering re-evaluation of the answer scripts. As observed and held by this Court in the case of Ran Vijay Singh v. State of U.P Ran Vijay Singh that sympathy or compassion does not play any role in the matter of directing or not directing re-evaluation of an answer sheet.

The impugned common judgments and orders passed by the learned Single Judge as well as Division Bench ordering re-evaluation of the answer scripts in absence of any such provision in the relevant rules are quashed and set aside. However, the same shall not affect the declaration of the results of the original writ petitioners on re-evaluation or appearing in the supplementary examination. Appeals allowed.

Tags : RE-EVALUATION ANSWER SCRIPTS PROVISION