Bombay HC: Exam Centers Restored After Unfair Cancellation Over Cheating Incident

Summary: The Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench, overturned the decision to cancel exam centers for several junior colleges in Maharashtra. The centers were initially canceled because of a cheating incident involving one student, but the court found the decision unfair and not properly handled.

The Case Begins

In January 2026, the Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench, handled several complaints from schools across Maharashtra. These schools, including Shivniketan Madhyamik and Uccha Madhyamik Vidyalaya, were upset because their exam centers for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams were canceled by the Maharashtra State Board.

What Triggered the Cancellation?

The issue started in February 2025 when a student was caught cheating during an English exam. This happened at Shivniketan Madhyamik and Uccha Madhyamik Vidyalaya's center. The Maharashtra State Board decided to cancel the exam centers because of this incident, saying it was part of a larger effort to stop cheating.

Shivniketan Madhyamik and Uccha Madhyamik Vidyalaya's Argument

The schools argued that the cheating incident was a one-time thing. They said:

• It was just one student.
• The school wasn’t involved.
• The center had a good history.

They also mentioned that other centers with similar problems weren't punished, which seemed unfair.

The Court’s Findings

The court, with Judges Smt. Vibha Kankanwadi and Hiten S. Venegavkar, found several problems with the board’s decision:

• No Clear Reasons: The cancellation order didn’t explain why such a harsh decision was needed.
• Breaking Rules: The board didn’t follow the proper steps and timelines.
• Too Harsh: Punishing the whole school for one student's actions was too extreme.

"In administrative matters, especially where a decision has serious consequences, giving reasons is crucial."

The Verdict

On January 19, 2026, the court ruled in favor of Shivniketan Madhyamik and Uccha Madhyamik Vidyalaya and other schools. It canceled the orders to close the exam centers and told the board to reopen them. The court emphasized the importance of fair exams but stressed that actions must be lawful and well-reasoned.

Moving Forward

The court set some conditions for the schools to ensure fair exams:

• Schools must promise to prevent cheating.
• Proper security and monitoring must be in place.