MCQ Requiring Single Answer Ceases To Serve Any Evaluative Purpose Once Exam Authority Accepts Two Options As Correct: Allahabad High Court
- Case
- Not specified in source
- Court
- Allahabad High Court
- Bench
- Not specified in source
- Citation
- Not specified in source
- Source
- Verdictum
The Allahabad High Court held that a multiple-choice question (MCQ) designed for a single correct answer loses its evaluative purpose if the examination authority accepts two options as correct. The Court stated that selectively awarding marks based on chance for a defective question is impermissible.
Ratio Decidendi · Legal Principle Established
When an examination authority accepts two options as correct for a multiple-choice question designed to have only one correct answer, the question ceases to serve any evaluative purpose. Awarding marks selectively to candidates who chose either of the two accepted options would make the evaluation of such a defective question dependent on chance, which is impermissible.
Practice & Procedural Impact for Advocates
Advocates challenging examination results should focus on demonstrating how defective questions undermine the evaluative process, especially when multiple answers are accepted for a single-choice question. Litigants should be aware that courts may intervene to ensure fairness in evaluation when examination authorities acknowledge defects in questions.
Key Legal Takeaways
- 1A single-answer MCQ becomes invalid for evaluation if two options are accepted as correct.
- 2Selective marking for defective questions based on chance is not permissible.
- 3Examination authorities must ensure questions serve their intended evaluative purpose.
The Legal Issue
The Allahabad High Court addressed a situation where a multiple-choice question (MCQ), designed to have only one correct answer, was found to have two correct options by the examination authority itself. The core legal issue was whether such a question could still serve an evaluative purpose and how marks should be awarded in such circumstances.
Court's Reasoning
The Allahabad High Court reasoned that once an examination authority acknowledges that an MCQ, intended for a single correct answer, actually has two correct options, the question fundamentally loses its evaluative utility. The Court stated that the purpose of an MCQ is to test a candidate's knowledge by identifying a unique correct answer. If two answers are deemed correct, the question becomes defective. The Court further held that selectively awarding marks to candidates who happened to choose either of the two accepted options would introduce an element of chance into the evaluation process, which is contrary to the principles of fair assessment. Such an approach would make the evaluation of a defective question dependent on luck rather than merit.
What Follows
The Court's holding implies that in such scenarios, the defective question should ideally be disregarded or all candidates should be awarded marks for it, to maintain fairness and prevent evaluation from becoming a matter of chance. The specific directions issued by the Court regarding the re-evaluation or marking of the particular question were not detailed in the source, but the principle established guides how such defective questions should be handled by examination authorities.