Madhyamik examinees who want to check their answer scripts under the right to information act (RTI) will not be allowed to inspect the scripts in the office of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education this year.

The examinees will be given photocopies of the scripts, which they can take home.

The decision has been taken as a preventive measure against Covid-19, said an official of the board, which conducts the Class X exams.

Till last year, the examinees who would apply under RTI to inspect their answer scripts were required to visit the board office on a particular day. They would be allotted one hour to go through the papers.

“A good number of RTI applicants are usually called to the board office and allowed to inspect their answer scripts. We need to follow the social distancing protocol this time. So, too many students can’t be allowed to check the scripts at a time,” the board official said.

Also, the applicants cannot be allowed in small batches to check their answer scripts in our office because that would drag the process too long.

“Certified photocopies of answer scripts will be handed over to the applicants or their guardians at the board office. Those can be taken home. If students detect any mistake, they will have to apply for rectification,” said an official.

“Rectified mark sheets will be issued to the students accordingly and no extra fee will be charged for that.”

The results of Madhyamik 2020 were declared on July 15.

The board will accept applications under RTI for inspection of answer scripts till October 23, that is within 100 days of the publication of the results, a notice issued by the board states.

Till last year, examinees could submit applications within 180 days of the publication of the results.

Students who have applied for post-publication scrutiny (PPS) or post-publication review (PPR) of the Madhyamik results can apply for inspection of answer scripts under RTI after the publication of the PPR and PPS results.