Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
| — | rti-for-answer-sheet-inspection [2026/07/22 15:48] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | {{htmlmetatags> | ||
| + | ====== Get Your Evaluated Answer Sheet Under RTI ====== | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{: | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <WRAP center round info 95%> | ||
| + | **Quick Reply:** Get a certified copy of your evaluated answer sheet under RTI after CBSE v Aditya Bandopadhyay 2011 — Rs 2 per page, sample application, | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | <WRAP info> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== The story most citizens recognise ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Ananya is a Class 12 science-stream student in Bhopal district. Her CBSE board result came out in May, and she scored 71 in Physics — at least 20 marks lower than every mock test she had sat for that year. One six-mark question on electromagnetism, | ||
| + | |||
| + | For decades, boards refused. "The answer sheet is confidential," | ||
| + | |||
| + | That changed on **9 August 2011**. The Supreme Court of India, in **CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay**, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== What answer-sheet inspection actually is ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | An **evaluated answer sheet** is the physical or scanned script on which an examiner has recorded marks, comments and initials against each answer. Once a board or university has evaluated it, the script becomes a record held by a " | ||
| + | |||
| + | Under **Section 2(f)** of the RTI Act, " | ||
| + | |||
| + | - **Fiduciary relationship (Section 8(1)(e))** — the Court held there is **no fiduciary relationship** between the examiner and the examining body in relation to the evaluated script. The examiner is an agent doing evaluated work; the script belongs to the board, which holds it for the examinee. | ||
| + | - **Physical safety of examiners (Section 8(1)(g))** — this exemption does apply, but only to the **identity of the examiner**. The board must **sever** the examiner' | ||
| + | - **Contrary bye-laws** — the Court held that **Section 22** of the RTI Act has overriding effect. Any board bye-law that conflicts with the RTI right is overridden. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Court was equally clear about one boundary: **re-evaluation is not a relief available under the RTI Act**. The Act gives you access to information; | ||
| + | |||
| + | <WRAP tip> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== How the inspection and copy process works ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Once your RTI application reaches the PIO, the process runs along a fixed track: | ||
| + | |||
| + | - **Day 0 — receipt.** The PIO logs the application and routes it to the examination/ | ||
| + | - **Day 1–20 — retrieval and severance.** The script is pulled from storage (or the digital scan is located). The examiner' | ||
| + | - **Day 21–29 — fee intimation.** Under **Section 7(3)**, the PIO sends you a fee intimation for the copy — **Rs.2 per page** for A-3 or smaller paper, plus any actual costs of larger sheets. You pay within the time given; the 30-day clock is paused while you pay. | ||
| + | - **Day 30 — supply.** The certified copy is handed over, posted, or emailed. Inspection of records, if you asked for it instead, is **free for the first hour** and **Rs.5 for each subsequent hour or fraction** under the Right to Information Rules, 2012. | ||
| + | |||
| + | One thing to understand: the **statutory fee ceiling** is set by the Central RTI Rules, not by the board. In **Paras Jain v. Institute of Company Secretaries of India**, the Delhi High Court (LPA 275/2014, 22 April 2014) quashed ICSI's Rs.500-per-answer-book charge as unsustainable, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== The 2026 update you must know about ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Two things have moved on since the 2011 ruling, and both affect when you should file. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **First — CBSE's weeding-out (retention) rules have changed.** Under the base bye-law (Chapter 8, Confidential Works), answer books were retained for three months and then destroyed. The Aditya Bandopadhyay Court held that the right of access does **not** extend beyond the board' | ||
| + | |||
| + | - Answer books (main and improvement) where **no verification or photocopy is requested** — retained **up to 2 months** after result declaration. | ||
| + | - Where a **photocopy has been provided** — **1 year** if no RTI case, **3 years** if an RTI case is on record. | ||
| + | - Where a **mistake is detected on verification** — **1 year**. | ||
| + | - **Sub-judice cases** — **1 year after the final judgment**. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The practical lesson: **file within two months of the result** for routine CBSE cases. If you file late and the script has been weeded out, the board will reply with a certification of non-availability, | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Second — the Central RTI Online Portal (rtionline.gov.in) now covers 2,300-plus Central public authorities**, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== The escalation ladder if the board refuses ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | RTI is powerful because it has a built-in ladder. A PIO who replies with "the answer sheet is confidential" | ||
| + | |||
| + | - **First Appeal (Section 19(1)):** If no reply comes within 30 days, or the reply is a refusal you believe is wrong, file a First Appeal with the **First Appellate Authority (FAA)** in the same examining body. Do this within 30 days of the expiry of the reply period (or of receiving the refusal). The FAA is a senior officer — usually the Joint Secretary or the Controller of Examinations — who reviews the PIO's decision. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45 in rare cases. There is no fee for a First Appeal. | ||
| + | - **Second Appeal (Section 19(3)):** If the FAA also fails you, file a Second Appeal with the **Central Information Commission** (for CBSE, CISCE, UPSC and other Central bodies) at **cic.gov.in**, | ||
| + | - **Complaint under Section 18:** You can also file a direct complaint to the Information Commission if the PIO never replied at all, refused to accept your application, | ||
| + | |||
| + | For answer-sheet cases, the most common refusal pattern is the board citing " | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Step-by-step: | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Step 1 — Identify the public authority and the PIO.** | ||
| + | - **Central boards and bodies** — CBSE, CISCE, UPSC, SSC, NTA, constitutional bodies, central universities, | ||
| + | - **State boards and state universities** — your state education board, state universities: | ||
| + | - **CBSE regional route** — you can also file offline to the CPIO, CBSE Regional Office that covers your school. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Step 2 — File within the retention window.** For CBSE, file **within two months of result declaration**. For other bodies, file as early as possible — the script will still be in active storage. Filing within a week of the result is the safest window. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Step 3 — Choose your filing mode.** | ||
| + | - **Online (Central bodies):** Go to **rtionline.gov.in**, | ||
| + | - **Offline: | ||
| + | - **State portals:** For state boards, use your state' | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Step 4 — Draft sharp, specific questions.** Do not write "give me all information about my result." | ||
| + | |||
| + | - " | ||
| + | - " | ||
| + | - " | ||
| + | - "If any question was dropped post-exam from evaluation, furnish the official notification and the date of issue." | ||
| + | - " | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Step 5 — Pay the copy fee when intimated.** The PIO will send a Section 7(3) intimation asking for Rs.2 per page. Pay it within the time stated. The 30-day clock resumes only after you pay. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Step 6 — Receive and check.** When the copy arrives, verify that examiner identity has been severed, that all pages are legible, and that the marks match the totals on your marksheet. If pages are missing or illegible, file a follow-up application or a First Appeal. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Documents to attach ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | - A copy of your **admit card / hall ticket** showing roll number and examination. | ||
| + | - A copy of your **marksheet or result printout**. | ||
| + | - Proof of **Rs.10 fee payment** — IPO counterfoil, | ||
| + | - **BPL certificate** if claiming the fee waiver under Rule 5 of the Right to Information Rules, 2012. | ||
| + | - A **self-addressed stamped envelope** if filing offline, so the reply can be posted. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Common mistakes to avoid ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | - **Filing after the retention window.** For CBSE, scripts are weeded out as early as two months after the result. File early. Once the script is legally destroyed, the board will reply with non-availability and the right is lost. | ||
| + | - **Paying the board' | ||
| + | - **Asking for another student' | ||
| + | - **Confusing RTI inspection with re-evaluation.** RTI gives you the script. Re-evaluation is a separate, paid board process that can change marks. The Aditya Bandopadhyay Court was explicit: re-evaluation is not an RTI relief. | ||
| + | - **Demanding the examiner' | ||
| + | - **Filing a state-board application on rtionline.gov.in.** The Central portal does not cover state authorities; | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Pro tips ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | - **File within a week of the result.** The script is still in active storage, the evaluation wing has not yet weeded anything out, and the PIO can retrieve it without hunting through archives. A week is the sweet spot; two months is the outer edge for CBSE routine cases. | ||
| + | - **Ask for a certified copy, not just inspection.** Inspection is cheaper (free for the first hour) but you cannot easily use an on-site reading in a later re-evaluation or court challenge. A certified photocopy is evidence you can hold, scan and attach. | ||
| + | - **Cite the case in the first line of your application.** The single sentence " | ||
| + | - **Use the online portal for Central bodies.** rtionline.gov.in gives you a registration number, a time-stamped record, and an audit trail — all of which make a First Appeal much easier if the board stalls. Offline postal applications work, but keep the acknowledgement. | ||
| + | - **Pair the RTI with the board' | ||
| + | - **Check your state' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Real-life example ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | <WRAP center round box> | ||
| + | A Class 12 science-stream student in Bhopal district received her CBSE result on 13 May 2026, scoring 71 in Physics. Believing a six-mark question had not been evaluated, she filed an RTI online through **rtionline.gov.in** on 20 May 2026 — seven days after the result — selecting " | ||
| + | |||
| + | On 4 June 2026 the CPIO intimated a copy fee of **Rs.2 per page** for a 24-page script — **Rs.48**. She paid online the same day. On 18 June 2026, within the 30-day limit, she received a certified photocopy with the examiner' | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Sample RTI letter ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | < | ||
| + | To, | ||
| + | The Central Public Information Officer, | ||
| + | [Examining Body — e.g. Central Board of Secondary Education / CISCE / UPSC / University], | ||
| + | [Address] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, for a certified copy of my evaluated answer sheet. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Sir/Madam, | ||
| + | |||
| + | I, [Name], citizen of India, resident of [Full Address], hereby submit the following application under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, relying on the Supreme Court judgment in CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay, | ||
| + | |||
| + | Examination: | ||
| + | Session / Year: ________ | ||
| + | Roll No. / Registration Number: ________ | ||
| + | Subject / Paper code: ________ | ||
| + | Date of declaration of result: ________ | ||
| + | |||
| + | Please furnish the following: | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1. A certified photocopy or high-resolution scan of my evaluated answer sheet for the above subject/ | ||
| + | 2. Question-wise and sub-question-wise marks awarded on my answer sheet, alongside the examiner' | ||
| + | 3. The moderation, grace or scaling applied to my result in this subject, with the official rule or circular number under which it was applied. | ||
| + | 4. If any question was dropped post-exam from evaluation, the official notification and date of issue. | ||
| + | 5. The date by which evaluated answer scripts for this examination are retained before weeding out, and confirmation of whether my script is currently within the retention period. | ||
| + | 6. The procedure and fee prescribed for re-evaluation or re-totalling under the board' | ||
| + | |||
| + | I enclose Indian Postal Order / challan / online payment receipt No. __________ for Rs.10 as the application fee. I undertake to pay Rs.2 per page for certified copies as required under the Right to Information Rules, 2012. | ||
| + | |||
| + | I declare that I am an Indian citizen. The information sought is my own evaluated answer sheet; no reason for the request is required under Section 6(2) of the RTI Act. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Yours faithfully, | ||
| + | [Signature, Date, Place] | ||
| + | [Name, Address, Contact] | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Frequently asked questions ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Does the Aditya Bandopadhyay ruling apply to UPSC and state boards, or only to CBSE? ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | It applies to every examining body that is a " | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Can the board refuse because I want to challenge my marks in court? ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | No. Under **Section 6(2)** of the RTI Act, an applicant need not give any reason for requesting information. Your motive — whether curiosity, a re-evaluation decision, or preparation for litigation — is irrelevant. The board must supply the script and let you decide what to do with it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== What fee can the board legally charge? ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Under the Right to Information Rules, 2012, the application fee is **Rs.10**, and the copy fee is **Rs.2 per page** for A-3 or smaller paper. Inspection is free for the first hour and Rs.5 for each subsequent hour. A board' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== What if the board says the script has already been destroyed? ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The right of access does not extend beyond the board' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Is inspection different from getting a photocopy? ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Yes. **Inspection** means you go to the board' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Can I get the examiner' | ||
| + | |||
| + | No. The examiner' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== What if the PIO does not reply in 30 days? ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | File a **First Appeal** under **Section 19(1)** with the First Appellate Authority of the same department, within 30 days of the expiry of the reply period. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45. If the FAA also fails, file a **Second Appeal** under **Section 19(3)** with the Central Information Commission (cic.gov.in) for Central bodies, or your State Information Commission, within 90 days. There is no fee for a second appeal to the Central Information Commission. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Can I ask for another student' | ||
| + | |||
| + | No. Another candidate' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Sources ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | - CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay, | ||
| + | - Right to Information Rules, 2012 (Rule 3 — Rs.10 fee; Rule 4(a) — Rs.2 per page; Rule 4(f) — inspection free first hour, Rs.5 per hour after; Rule 5 — BPL waiver): [npti.gov.in RTI Rules PDF](https:// | ||
| + | - Paras Jain v. Institute of Company Secretaries of India, Delhi HC LPA 275/2014 (22 April 2014), upheld by SC Civil Appeal No. 5665/2014 (11 April 2019): [indiankanoon.org/ | ||
| + | - CBSE Bye-laws, Chapter 8 (Confidential Works) — answer-book retention: [cbse.gov.in/ | ||
| + | - CBSE weeding-out rules (current, tiered retention): [cbse.gov.in/ | ||
| + | - Central RTI Online Portal (rtionline.gov.in): | ||
| + | - Right to Information Act, 2005 — Sections 2(f), 2(h), 6(1), 6(2), 7(1), 7(3), 8(1)(e), 8(1)(g), 8(1)(j), 10, 19(1), 19(3), 22 | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Related on RTI Wiki ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | - [[rti-for-answer-sheet-evaluation|RTI for answer sheet evaluation]] | ||
| + | - [[rti-for-cbse-re-evaluation-records-2026|RTI for CBSE re-evaluation records 2026]] | ||
| + | - [[rti-for-ssc-upsc-answer-sheet-2026|RTI for SSC and UPSC answer sheet 2026]] | ||
| + | - [[rti-for-university-result-rechecking|RTI for university result rechecking]] | ||
| + | - [[rti-for-exam-result-delay|RTI for exam result delay]] | ||
| + | - [[rti-for-students-and-youth|RTI for students and youth]] | ||
| + | - [[answer-sheet-copy-revaluation-result-not-provided|Answer sheet copy or revaluation result not provided]] | ||
| + | - [[examination-result-withheld|Examination result withheld]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Use the free **AI RTI drafting tool** at https:// | ||
| + | |||
| + | //Last reviewed: 4 July 2026.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{tag> | ||