The Delhi High Court on November 4 issued notice to the CBSE, NCERT and the Union Government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking permission for Class XII students to use basic calculators in board examinations.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma directed the authorities to file their responses within six weeks.
The petition was filed by Vishal Dua along with ten other parents. They have argued that lengthy manual calculations in subjects such as Accountancy and Mathematics consume valuable examination time, leaving students with less opportunity to demonstrate their conceptual understanding.
The plea highlights that CBSE's Curriculum Committee approved the use of basic calculators in Class XII Accountancy examinations during its 70th meeting in November 2024. However, the recommendation has allegedly not been implemented.
The petitioners contend that the continued delay is arbitrary and violates Article 14 of the Constitution. They have also sought an expert committee to examine calculator use in Mathematics and extension of the existing facility for students with dyscalculia to other categories of students with disabilities.
During the hearing, CBSE's counsel submitted that the issue required consideration by an expert committee, particularly because calculations are involved in several subjects. The counsel sought time to obtain instructions from the Board.
The High Court issued notice to the concerned authorities, granting them six weeks to respond to the petition.
