Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has pulled up a reputed South Kolkata school after a Class 10 student was nearly barred from appearing in the ongoing West Bengal Madhyamik examinations due to a name mix-up at the school level, according to various reports.

The error occurred because two students at the school shared the same name — Ayan Das. The school mistakenly forwarded the details of an ineligible student to the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), while the eligible candidate was left without an admit card just days before the exams began on February 2.

Court imposes fine, orders urgent relief

Taking serious note of the lapse, the High Court imposed a ₹10,000 fine on the school and directed the WBBSE to make immediate arrangements to allow the student to sit for the exam.

On Thursday, January 29, Justice Amrita Sinha expressed strong displeasure over the school’s negligence and ordered that the student be formally enrolled by Friday evening, with the Board instructed to issue his admit card on an urgent basis. The WBBSE was also directed to register the student’s name upon receiving the prescribed late fee or fine from the school.

Departmental action ordered

The court further ordered departmental action against the school official whose negligence led to the student being denied his admit card.

Court sources said one of the two students, Ayan Das, had failed the mandatory test examination, making him ineligible for the Madhyamik exams. However, the school mistakenly forwarded his details to the Board, which issued an admit card in his name. Meanwhile, the eligible student, who had passed the test examination, was not registered and did not receive his admit card.

His guardians then approached the High Court seeking urgent intervention.

School admits lapse, Board declines last-minute change

During the hearing, the school’s counsel admitted the mistake and said the institution had immediately approached the WBBSE to rectify the error. However, the Board reportedly declined to make changes on its online portal at such a late stage.

After hearing all parties, the court observed that a student’s academic year cannot be jeopardised due to institutional negligence.

“This is the first major examination of a student’s secondary school life. Denying them the opportunity to appear for the exam due to a mistake by the school would be a grave injustice,” the court said.