Court Dismisses Writ Petitions Challenging the Digital Marking System as Fair and Transparent
In a landmark judgment on June 15, 2026, the Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld the digital evaluation system adopted by Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University, declaring it as a fair, transparent, and secure method for assessing university examination answer sheets. The judgment was delivered by a division bench comprising Mr. Vivek Rusia, A.C.J., and Mr. Pradeep Mittal, J., in response to two writ petitions challenging the marks awarded through the digital evaluation system.
The petitioners, Premlata Tiwari and Amarjeet Bhardwaj, both students of Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University, had approached the court seeking re-evaluation of their answer sheets, alleging discrepancies in the marks awarded. The court, however, found no flaws in the digital evaluation process, which involves a dual valuation method managed by an outsourced agency, Mindlogicx Infratech Ltd. This system ensures the highest marks from two independent evaluators are considered for each subject, effectively eliminating human error.
The court was informed that the digital evaluation system involves the scanning of answer sheets, which are then evaluated by two different valuers independently. The process is entirely electronic, from secure question paper delivery to result declaration, with no scope for physical interference. The university had previously amended its examination ordinance to incorporate this system, aiming for greater accuracy and transparency.
Petitioners had relied on photocopies of their answer sheets obtained under the Right to Information Act to claim inconsistencies. However, upon court-directed revaluation through a physical mode by an independent valuer, the original marks were largely confirmed, further reinforcing the validity of the digital system.
In addition to dismissing the petitions, the court imposed costs on the petitioners, directing them to pay Rs. 5000 each to the university. The court also suggested improvements to the digital evaluation process, such as using touch screen devices with stylus for marking, employing standardized symbols and rubrics, and adopting blockchain or encryption for enhanced document security.
The judgment is expected to pave the way for more educational institutions to adopt digital evaluation methods, bringing in transparency and efficiency in the examination process.
Bottom line:-
Evaluation of answer sheets - Digital evaluation system adopted by Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University upheld as fair, transparent, and secure - Court dismisses writ petitions seeking re-evaluation of answer sheets, finding no flaw in the process.
Statutory provision(s): Right to Information Act, 2005
