Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 17: In a significant legal development, the Karnataka High Court has struck down the state government’s controversial decision to replace marks with grades for third language subjects in the SSLC examination. While the court ordered the immediate restoration of the 625-mark total, officials have cautioned that the announcement of results could be delayed if the government decides to appeal the verdict.
High Court’s sharp rebuke
A single-judge bench of Justice E S Indiresh, hearing a petition filed by Sahana R Naik from Chikkamagaluru and others, ruled that marks must be compulsorily recorded for Hindi and other third languages. The court observed that reducing the total score to 525 and awarding only grades (A, B, and C) could prove detrimental to students' academic interests and future prospects in higher education.
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The bench emphasized that under examination norms and the Right to Education, transparency in recording marks for every subject is essential.
Appeal could stall results
Following the order, the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) is reportedly consulting legal experts, including former Advocate General Prof Ravivarma Kumar, to decide on a possible appeal to a division bench. Sources within the board stated that if a writ appeal is filed, the result declaration process will be stalled as the matter becomes sub-judice. This would also lead to a subsequent delay in conducting the Annual Examination-2 (supplementary).
Technical feasibility of marks-based results
The evaluation for the third language was completed on April 15. Evaluators confirmed that, as per standard practice, they have already recorded and uploaded marks for the subject. Board officials and teachers noted that providing marks-based results would not be a technical hurdle since the raw data is already available in the system.
Reacting to the development, Shashidhar, state president of the State Third Language Organizing Committee, said, “We have already filed a caveat in the court to ensure our side is heard if the government moves for an appeal.”
Student anxiety and pass criteria
The shift has sparked anxiety among students. Since the government had initially announced a grading system, many students reportedly did not take the third language exam with the usual seriousness. There are now fears that restoring marks-based evaluation might lead to an increase in the number of students failing the subject.
Under the state's proposed special gazette, a student was required to score 173 out of 525 to pass. The High Court’s ruling effectively reverts this, restoring the third language to its original 100-mark weightage, bringing the total back to 625.