Clerical Errors, Big Consequences: A Landmark Judgment on Student Rights
- April 1, 2026, 6:50 p.m.
The Delhi HC guided the CBSE to fix errors immediately in the subjects uploaded on its website for many students in Grade XII of Apex Public School (Sant Nagar) and allow them to take their practical and board examinations.
In an order published on 4.2.2026, Justice Jasmeet Singh mentioned that 24 students were required to take examinations in subjects they had not studied due to an accidental data entry mistake on the CBSE website.
All Grade 12 science students approached the court after discovering errors when uploading their exam details. In spite of repeated requests by the school to correct the List of Candidates, CBSE did not reply. Representing the students, advocate Pramod Gupta mentioned that they observed the errors in September 2025. The discrepancies involved incorrect subject listings like biology instead of maths and vice versa, as well as errors in parents’ and students’ names.
The school’s guidance recognised the errors that happened during data upload, conveyed regret, and assisted the students’ case during the hearing. Justice Singh also noted that if the court did not step in, the students would have taken examinations in subjects they had not studied due to the website mistakes.
The court guided CBSE to correct the subjects and other information and take all required steps immediately. It was clarified that the students should be allowed to appear in their Grade XII practical and board examinations. In addition, the court guided the Department of Education to look into the Apex Public School’s operation and submit a complete report to CBSE for further action.
