Delhi High Court Issues Notice On PIL Seeking Calculators In CBSE Class XII Board Exams

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking permission for Class XII students to use basic calculators in CBSE board examinations, while orally remarking that it is for the Board to decide whether to implement its own committee’s recommendation. The notice is returnable in six weeks.

The matter was listed before a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma.

The petition, titled Vishal Dua & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., is built largely on a proposal that CBSE itself cleared nearly two years ago. Counsel for the petitioners relied on the 140th meeting of the CBSE Governing Body, held on December 26, 2024, and pointed to Item No. 4.08, titled “To consider and approve Permitting the Use of Calculators in Class XII Accountancy Examinations.”

Reading from the record, counsel said the committee “was briefed on the proposal to permit the use of basic, non-programmable calculators in the Class XII Accountancy examination.” According to the minutes, the decision “aims to reduce the cognitive load of lengthy calculations, allowing students to focus on critical analysis and case studies.” The record further states that clear guidelines on permissible calculator models would be issued to ensure uniformity, and that the initiative “aligns CBSE with international practices” and supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s emphasis on higher-order thinking skills.

The grievance, counsel submitted, is that nothing has moved since. “The curriculum committee approved the above agenda in December 2024 but nothing has moved after that,” the court was told.

The bench first questioned the legal footing of the demand. “Is this binding?” it asked. Counsel conceded it was not, adding, “Therefore, the writ.” The argument was that CBSE cannot keep the matter hanging. “It is their own decision in furtherance of NEP 2020, two years have elapsed, therefore, they take a decision either way, either implement or not,” counsel submitted.

The court also asked the petitioners to explain who they were. Counsel said they are parents of students, and that the issue is one of larger public interest. “It is interest governing all students, not the petitioners alone,” counsel said.

The bench, however, signalled caution on judicial interference. Orally, it observed that the Supreme Court has said courts should not interfere in matters of academic discipline. Referring to the minutes relied upon, the court remarked, “Those are the minutes. It is for them whether to implement or not.”

Counsel for the petitioners responded that CBSE has not taken any stand either way. “The CBSE is not in a denial. They are not saying we are implementing or not implementing. They are probably sitting on it,” counsel said.

Appearing for CBSE, counsel told the court that the Board offers 204 subjects and that calculations are involved in several of them, not just Accountancy. Any such change, counsel said, would require an expert committee to give recommendations on the subjects concerned as well as on the logistics of conducting examinations with calculators. Counsel added that the decision on examination rules rests with the examination committee, while this recommendation came from the curriculum committee. The counsel for CBSE sough time to seek instructions.

The court issued notice returnable within six weeks. The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 27, 2027.

Background

The PIL has been filed by Vishal Dua, a parent of a Class XII student, along with ten other parents. It seeks a direction to CBSE to conclude, notify and implement the Accountancy calculator proposal within eight weeks, to set up a time-bound expert committee on extending the facility to Mathematics, and to extend the existing calculator relief for students with dyscalculia to other categories of students with disabilities. The petitioners say a representation sent on August 17, 2026 has received no reply. The petition has been filed through NMLO Legal LLP, with Advocate Nitin Mangla signing it.

Case Title: Vishal Dua & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.

Date of Hearing: November 4, 2026

Bench: Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma