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Mobile in Pocket Spells Doom: Karnataka HC Backs CBSE's Tough Stance on Exam Rules
In a ruling that underscores the for electronic devices in exam halls, the Division Bench of the —comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha —has overturned a single judge's order granting leniency to a Class 12 student caught with a mobile phone during his CBSE board exam. The court reinstated the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) decision to cancel the student's current and next year's results under of its guidelines, even without evidence of actual use.
From Late Arrival to Committee Crossfire
The saga began on , the first day of CBSE Class 12 exams for the 2024-25 academic year, held from February 17 to March 11. Donthi Saathvik Reddy , an 18-year-old student from New Baldwin International School in Bengaluru, arrived 25 minutes late for his Physical Education paper at the distant exam center, Shri Ram Global School in Bommenahalli—23 km from his home. In the haste of the morning rush, he apparently forgot his mobile in his pocket.
About 25 minutes into the exam, after a washroom break, an invigilator spotted the phone, seized it, and reported it to the observer. No exam-related material was found on the device, verified later by a subject expert on . Despite this, the student was given a fresh question and answer booklet to finish the paper (completing it in 1 hour 40 minutes amid formalities) and allowed to take subsequent exams in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and English.
CBSE's , after a enquiry where the student claimed innocent forgetfulness (even during frisking), slotted him under for possession of a mobile phone. On , CBSE informed the school of the penalty: cancellation of the current year's results across all subjects and debarment from the next year's exams. The meritorious student—scoring 92% in Class 10 and clearing IIT-JEE Advanced—challenged this in Writ Petition No. 16511/2025 .
CBSE's Iron Fist vs Student's Plea for Mercy
CBSE , as appellants, argued that updated guidelines (communicated , post-139th Governing Body meeting on ) explicitly place possession, use, or attempted use of mobile phones (as electronic communication devices) in , mandating severe penalties to prevent question paper leaks and sabotage. They distinguished prior precedents like Shuchi Mishra v. Joint Secretary (2020), where guidelines were different and the phone wasn't taken into the hall. CBSE stressed that students are warned via admit cards, and expert bodies ratified the rules recognizing mobiles' high risk.
The student countered that no proof existed of use or foul intent—echoing 's " " for unused copying material. He sought to strike down or "read down" for discrimination and cited the single judge's order quashing the penalty on parity with Shuchi Mishra , deeming it mere negligence by a "tender mind."
Decoding Bye-Laws: Possession Trumps Intent
Delving into (amended 2018) and guidelines ( , updated 2024-25), the Division Bench clarified that possession alone constitutes UFM, especially post-2024 upgrades equating mobiles with other devices for their communication risks. The 139th Governing Body explicitly shifted mobiles from lenient to stringent after deeming prior distinctions "unreasonable."
The court rejected "
" the rules, as they were ratified by an expert body:
"this Court, substituting its opinion with that of the expert body does not arise."
It distinguished
Shuchi Mishra
(2020)—pre-categorization, phone handed over pre-exam—and noted CBSE's acceptance then doesn't bind now. Factual uncontested points (no incriminating material, permission for other exams) didn't override the possession rule.
Key Observations from the Bench
-
"The General Body Meeting accepted the recommendation... even mere possession of a mobile phone has been mentioned in
, which prescribes a stringent penalty."
-
"If a mobile phone is found in possession of a candidate during the examination, there is a high degree of risk involved in leakage of question papers and sabotaging of examinations."
-
"The question of
an aspect which has been specifically removed from
and inserted in
by an expert body is not liable to be interfered with."
-
"Though the Candidate had the Mobile during the Examination, but there is no proof that he has used the same... [yet] as per Candidate's submission he had the Mobile with him by mistake."
(Committee observation, unavailing) -
"Mobile and other communication devices are not allowed inside the examination center."
(Admit card instructions)
Verdict Reinforces Exam Fortress
On
, the Division Bench allowed
Writ Appeal No. 1532 of 2025
, setting aside the single judge's order:
"The above appeal is allowed and the impugned order is set aside."
This decision signals to students and parents: no room for "oops" moments with mobiles—possession alone risks two years' exams. It bolsters CBSE's arsenal against malpractices, potentially deterring risks amid rising leaks, while urging stricter pre-exam checks. For high-achievers like this IIT-aspirant, it serves as a stark reminder that rules protect the system's integrity above individual circumstances.
