THE CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION AND ANR. versus T. K. RANGARAJAN AND ORS.

THE CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION AND ANR. versus T. K. RANGARAJAN AND ORS.

The High Court’s allocation of four grace marks each for 49 questions to all students who took NEET-UG in Tamil, regardless of their actual answers or attempts, is arbitrary and unjustified. When ambiguity arises from translation, English version should be final, as the requirement for knowledge in English is stipulated by NEET-UG and MBBS/BDS courses are taught in English.

Parties
Appellant: Central Board of Secondary Education; Respondent: T. K. Rangarajan and Ors.
Jurisdiction
India
Judgment Date
22 November 2018
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Final Judgment on Appeal From High Court
Outcome
Impugned High Court judgment set aside; appeals allowed.
Legal Topics
Mbbs/md Course Admissions, National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (neet), Translation Errors in Question Paper, Bilingual Examinations
Education Mbbs/md Course Admissions National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (neet) Translation Errors in Question Paper Bilingual Examinations

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Parties

Central Board of Secondary Education

Appellant

T. K. Rangarajan and Ors.

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Final Judgment on Appeal From High Court

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether awarding four grace marks each for 49 erroneously translated Tamil questions in NEET-UG was justified
  2. 2 Whether English version of NEET-UG questions should be final in case of translation ambiguity

Ratio Decidendi

The High Court’s allocation of four grace marks each for 49 questions to all students who took NEET-UG in Tamil, regardless of their actual answers or attempts, is arbitrary and unjustified. When ambiguity arises from translation, English version should be final, as the requirement for knowledge in English is stipulated by NEET-UG and MBBS/BDS courses are taught in English.

Court Disposition

Impugned High Court judgment set aside; appeals allowed.

Orders

  • Judgment of High Court of Madras dated 10.07.2018 is set aside.
  • From academic year 2019–20 onwards, NEET-UG to be conducted by National Testing Agency with bilingual question papers translated as per instructions in affidavit dated 22.10.2018 signed by Director, NTA.