SC issues notice to CBSE on withheld Class 12 improvement exam result of Saudi-based student

The Supreme Court on Monday (June 8) issued a notice to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) following a writ petition filed by an overseas student from Saudi Arabia, urging the court to direct the board to declare the result of his Class XII Improvement Examination. The court stated that the matter would be taken for hearing on Friday.

According to a report in Live Law, the petitioner, Pransu Jigarkumar, questioned the CBSE’s failure to declare the results despite introducing an assessment scheme for students whose examinations in several Gulf countries were cancelled because of the ongoing West Asia conflict.

The report further stated that the declared Class XII results on May 13, 2026, added that, according to the petitioner, his result was not declared and his status was shown as “R.L. (Result Later)”.

‘No clarification from CBSE’

Elaborating further, the petitioner stated that the CBSE has not provided any clarification on whether the assessment scheme covers private candidates who appeared for the improvement examinations.

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The petitioner argued that private candidates whose examinations were cancelled in several West Asian countries owing to war-related tensions should also be covered under the CBSE's special assessment scheme. He had earlier approached the Delhi High Court seeking relief, but the court declined to entertain the plea.

SC seeks CBSE's response

A vacation bench comprising Justice Manmohan and Justice Vijay Bishnoi issued notice to the CBSE and its Regional Officer in the matter. At the outset, Justice Manmohan observed that the petitioner should have first moved the Delhi High Court.

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Appearing for the CBSE, counsel informed the court that while the assessment scheme required schools to provide evaluation records, such assessment was unavailable in the case of a private candidate.

Court flags impact on admissions

Justice Manmohan suggested that the petitioner's past academic records could be considered and directed the CBSE counsel to obtain instructions by Friday. Seeking additional time, the counsel submitted, "CBSE is already overworked."

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Responding to the submission, Justice Manmohan said, "This is about the career of a child; he will miss all his admissions...Whatever it is, burn the midnight oil."

Exams cancelled amid regional conflict

According to the petition, the student appeared as a private candidate from Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, for the 2026 Class XII Improvement Examination after taking the board examination in 2025.

While he successfully appeared for Physics and Chemistry, examinations in Mathematics, English and Computer Science were cancelled due to the disruptions.