HC directs to grant grace marks to disabled student

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed the Higher Secondary Board to give 20 grace marks to a student who is physically challenged and 75 per cent blind. The court was hearing a petition filed by the girl, who appeared twice for the HSC examination but failed. The petitioner claimed that if the board gave her 20 grace marks, she would pass and go for further studies. The petitioner also said that she had forgotten to mark the column meant for “handicapped” students while filling up the examination form.

A division bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice Girish Kulkarni was hearing the petition filed by the girl who is handicapped and 75 per cent blind. She had appeared for the exam in March-April 2018. Earlier, she had approached the commissioner of disabilities who recommended that 20 grace marks be added to her February-March 2018 exam results. However, the Higher Secondary Board passed a resolution and rejected the petitioner’s request on grounds that no result could be amended after six months from the date of declaration of results.

The petitioner’s lawyer Sanjay Jain submitted that the petitioner was suffering from 75 per cent blindness and was a handicapped student, and that if 20 grace marks were added to her result, she could pass and be in a position to study further.

While  the court observed that the petitioner had failed twice in the Class 12 examination. The court also observed that her disability had not been disputed by anyone but that she was unaware that the disability column had to be filled.

The court then directed the Higher Secondary Board to add 20 marks to her result and issue a fresh certificate within three weeks of the date of receipt of this order.