The Peshawar High Court has summoned the chairman and controller of examinations of the Peshawar Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education in person, along with the original Biology theory answer sheet and complete record of a ninth-grade student allegedly awarded zero marks because of erroneous checking.
The case was heard after student Abdul Moiz Khan challenged the zero marks given to him in the Biology I theory examination conducted by the Peshawar Board.
A two-member bench, comprising PHC Senior Puisne Judge Ijaz Anwar and Justice Babar Sattar, heard the petition filed through counsel Aminur Rehman Yousafzai.
The petitioner’s lawyer told the court that his client had been awarded zero marks in the Biology theory paper.
During the hearing, the board’s legal counsel, Zainul Abideen, told the court that the student’s grievance would be addressed and admitted that the Biology-I paper had been checked incorrectly, resulting in the accidental award of zero marks.
He said the examination papers were assigned computer-generated codes after reaching the board and that the student’s paper had mistakenly been given another number.
Justice Anwar expressed serious concern over the explanation and noted that the error came to light only after the student approached the court.
He also reprimanded the board’s legal representative for failing to produce the original Biology-I paper despite earlier directions from the bench.
The court voiced concern over repeated complaints from students about errors and negligence by board officials in result preparation.
Justice Anwar said the board was “playing with the future of children” and observed that such cases continued to surface, with authorities later calling the discrepancies mistakes.
He added that the petitioner was the son of a lawyer who could take the case to court, but many other students could not afford legal help to challenge result errors.
The petitioner’s counsel also told the court that around 1.9 million students had submitted applications for rechecking to the board.
He said the issue had now been “resolved” by the board.
However, the court said awarding zero marks in an exam was not a minor issue and required serious consideration. It directed the board authorities to produce the student’s original examination paper and complete record at the next hearing.
The judge also said the matter had become routine for the board and warned that those responsible must face action to bring improvement.
The PHC directed the chairman and controller of examinations of the Peshawar Board to appear in person at the next hearing and adjourned the case until September 9.
Separately, the petitioner’s legal counsel said the board had reissued the student’s mark sheet and updated his Biology score to 72 out of 75.
He said the zero in the Biology theory paper had been changed to 65 by the controller of examinations and shared a photocopy of the revised detailed marks certificate
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