The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ordered the Central Board of Secondary Education to give a Delhi student question-wise marks awarded to her in the Class X science and technology paper in 2005.

The CBSE, which has strongly opposed to showing students their evaluated answer-sheets, argued that there were no provisions in the examination byelaws of the board to show the answer-script to candidates.

An internal appeal moved on behalf of the student, Aditi Gupta, against this response was also turned down by the CBSE. The board took cover under an exemption clause in the Right to Information clause that bars information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship.

Incidentally, the CIC had first cited this exemption clause to turn down an RTI request in February.

The order had been severely criticised by RTI activists including Magsaysay award-winner Arvind Kejriwal who argued that the commission had misinterpreted this provision. In subsequent cases, the commission, however, agreed to take a re-look and refer this issue to a Full Bench of the Commission to take a final call.