(News) Dyslexic child can't use calculator in CBSE exam
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Dyslexic child can't use calculator in CBSE exam
About Dyslexia: Dyslexia is a learning disorder that manifests itself as a difficulty with reading, spelling and in some cases mathematics. It is separate and distinct from reading difficulties resulting from other causes, such as a non-neurological deficiency with vision or hearing, or from poor or inadequate reading instruction. Know more..
The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a dyslexic's plea for permission to use a calculator in his Class XII public examination in mathematics conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education.
(Dyslexia is a disorder involving difficulty in learning to read or interpret words.)
A Bench of Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, Justice Deepak Verma and Justice C. K. Prasad dismissed a special leave petition filed by Pranay Jain through his father against a judgment of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.
The CJI told senior counsel J.L. Gupta, appearing for the petitioner, a resident of Panchkula in Haryana: “When the CBSE, an expert body, has considered and decided against the use of calculator in the examination, scheduled for next week, it is not possible for us to allow you to use a calculator. We are told that there are about 300 students with dyslexia. If we allow your prayer, we may have to grant similar relief to all other students.”
When counsel said unequals could not be treated on a par with equals, the CJI said students with disabilities “are allowed one hour extra time and they also have the assistance of another student to write the examination. If the CBSE takes a decision to allow you, we will have no problem, but we cannot grant any relief”.
The CJI did not accept the submission that the CBSE rule denying use of a calculator was violative of Article 14 (equality before law) of the Constitution.
When counsel said Pranay could be allowed to use a calculator and the results of the examination might be withheld until after the matter was disposed of, Justice Verma said, “The student's career will be in stagnation if we accept your argument.”