The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on a writ petition filed by an overseas student from Saudi Arabia seeking declaration of his Class XII Improvement Examination result, which has remained withheld despite a special assessment scheme framed for students affected by examination cancellations in several West Asian countries.
The Vacation Bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Vijay Bishnoi sought a response from CBSE and its Regional Officer and posted the matter for further hearing on Friday.
The petition has been filed by Pransu Jigarkumar Patel, a private candidate who appeared for the CBSE Class XII Improvement Examination, 2026, from Al Jubail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The petitioner challenged CBSE’s decision not to declare his result under the special assessment mechanism introduced after Class XII examinations in multiple Gulf countries were cancelled due to prevailing security concerns and military hostilities in the region. While CBSE declared the Class XII results on May 13, 2026, Patel’s result was withheld, and his status was reflected as Result Later (R.L.).
Patel contended that CBSE has failed to clarify whether private candidates appearing for improvement examinations are entitled to the benefit of the assessment scheme. According to him, private candidates who were similarly affected by the cancellation of examinations in West Asian countries due to war-related circumstances are also entitled to the benefits of the special assessment mechanism. Prior to approaching the Supreme Court, Patel had moved the Delhi High Court, which declined to entertain his plea.
During the hearing, Justice Manmohan initially observed that the petitioner ought to have approached the Delhi High Court. Appearing for CBSE, counsel submitted that the assessment mechanism contemplated evaluation through schools, but such assessment was unavailable in the present case because Patel had appeared as a private candidate.
The Bench, however, indicated that the petitioner’s previous academic records could be considered for evaluation and directed CBSE to obtain instructions before the next date of hearing. When CBSE sought additional time on the ground that the Board was already burdened with substantial work, the Court emphasised that the matter concerned the academic future and higher education prospects of a student and therefore required urgent consideration.
According to the petition, Patel had registered for improvement in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English and Computer Science after appearing for the Class XII examination in 2025.
However, due to escalating regional tensions and security concerns, CBSE cancelled several Class XII examinations scheduled to be conducted in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. As a result, Patel was able to appear only in the Physics and Chemistry papers, while examinations in Mathematics, English and Computer Science were cancelled.
Subsequently, CBSE issued a notification dated March 27, 2026 introducing an Assessment Scheme for Declaration of Results of Class XII in West Asian Countries. The scheme was intended to address situations where examinations could not be conducted due to extraordinary circumstances.
Under the scheme, students whose examinations remained pending were to be assessed on the basis of school records. For subjects carrying 70 or 80 theory marks, schools were required to furnish marks obtained in quarterly examinations, half-yearly examinations and final pre-board examinations, with the highest score among the three being considered for final assessment. The scheme also provided that students dissatisfied with the assessment could be afforded an opportunity to appear in fresh examinations in the affected subjects if circumstances permitted. Mathematics, English Core and Computer Science were specifically identified by CBSE as subjects whose examinations had not been conducted in the affected countries.
The petitioner submitted that he studied at the International Indian School, Al Jubail, and that all relevant academic records, including quarterly, half-yearly and pre-board examination results, are available with the institution. He argued that these records can be utilised for assessment under the special scheme.
The petition further stated that the non-declaration of the result has adversely impacted his higher education prospects. Patel has applied for admission to a B.Tech programme in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and was required to furnish his Class XII result by June 1, 2026. Owing to the pending result, he has been unable to complete the admission process and has also been prevented from pursuing admissions in other educational institutions.
Challenging CBSE’s action, the petitioner contended that the Board’s failure to declare his result despite the existence of the assessment scheme is arbitrary, unreasonable and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. He further argued that denial of the benefit of the scheme amounts to hostile discrimination since he is similarly situated to other students whose examinations were cancelled due to the same external circumstances. The petition asserted that no student should be prejudiced or penalised because examinations could not be conducted due to war-related developments beyond his control.
Patel has sought a direction to CBSE to declare his result by applying the March 27 assessment scheme and by obtaining his quarterly, half-yearly and pre-board examination records from his school. In the alternative, he has sought directions for conducting special examinations in Mathematics, English and Computer Science so that he may complete the improvement process and pursue higher education without further delay.
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