Chandigarh, March 3
Students suffering from dyslexia may not have to do the calculations themselves during examinations. Acting on a petition filed by a class XII student suffering from the learning disorder, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) “to permit calculations to be made by a scribe at the instance of the petitioner during examination”. The permission to use calculator stands declined.

Disposing of the matter, the high court made it clear that further directions cannot be issued “in view of the stay granted by the Supreme Court”. But, it granted the petitioner the “liberty to approach the Supreme Court for any appropriate directions”.

In his petition placed before Justice Permod Kohli, Pranjay Jain had sought “protection of his rights on account of natural disability under the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, and other related laws on the subject”.

Referring to expert opinion, it was contended on the petitioner’s behalf that the child has “specific development disorder of scholastic skills (spelling and writing) and would benefit from use of calculator, among other things”.

Counsel for the Union of India, on the other hand, placed on record a fax message received from the Deputy Educational Adviser with the Centre asserting “there is no policy with the Ministry of Human Resource Development with regard to the use of calculators by the dyslexic during the board examinations”. The board, too, opposed the plea for the use of calculator.

After hearing rival contentions and going through the documents, Justice Kohli asserted: “Apparently, the national policy for the disabled does contain provisions for facilities for the persons suffering from dyslexia, which inter alia includes the use of calculator…. The press note issued by the board and other documents, however, specify that such students are not be required to do the calculations themselves. Keeping in view this contention, the board is directed to permit calculations to be made by the scribe.”