Summary: A group of schools in Maharashtra successfully challenged the cancellation of their exam centers in court. The centers were initially canceled due to a single cheating incident, and the court found the decision to be unfair and lacking proper procedure.
This legal battle started when several schools, including Rashtramata Uccha Madhaymik Vidyalaya from Vajegaon, Nanded, found their exam centers canceled. The Maharashtra State Board had taken this action because of a cheating incident during the February 2025 exams.
On February 11, 2025, during the English exam, a student was caught cheating. Rashtramata Uccha Madhaymik Vidyalaya and the other schools argued that this was a one-time incident and not a sign of widespread cheating. They had conducted exams smoothly for years without issues.
"It was a solitary, stray incident by one candidate," the schools insisted.
In July 2025, the schools received a notice asking why their centers shouldn't be canceled. Despite their explanations, the Board issued an order on December 18, 2025, canceling the centers.
The schools took the matter to the Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench. Judges Vibha Kankanwadi and Hiten S. Venegavkar handled the case, which was heard on January 16, 2026, and decided on January 19, 2026.
The court found several issues with the Board's decision:
"Reasons are the heartbeat of the decision," the court emphasized.
The court canceled the orders to close the exam centers and told the Board to restore them. Rashtramata Uccha Madhaymik Vidyalaya and the other schools must ensure fair exams and promise to prevent future incidents.
The court's decision highlighted the importance of fair procedures and proportional responses in educational administration. It also emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in handling exam-related issues.
This case serves as a reminder that while strict measures against cheating are necessary, they must be implemented fairly and with proper justification.
