The Karnataka High Court has granted permission to the State government to conduct board exams for students in classes 5, 8, 9, and 11. These exams are scheduled to begin on March 11, following an appeal by the government against a ruling by a single judge. The bench, presided over by Justice K. Somashekar and Justice Rajesh Rai K, issued an interim order overturning the judgment made on March 6.
The earlier ruling had invalidated the government’s decision to hold board exams for these classes starting from the academic year 2023-24. The judge declared that the decision was made without following the due process of law outlined in the Karnataka Education Act, 1983. Additionally, the government’s decision to conduct annual exams for class 11 through the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEAB) was annulled, although exams for the current academic year had already concluded.
The judge emphasized that the government’s scheme for conducting board exams lacked the necessary rules under Sections 22 and 145 of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983. These sections mandate the government to formulate rules for the examination system, with input from stakeholders.
In its appeal, the government argued that the revised exam scheme aimed to introduce academic discipline and uniformity in the state’s education system by involving the KSEAB in a specific component of the assessment. The government further contended that this was not a traditional board exam; a different board would set the question papers, and a distinct method would be employed to evaluate the answer papers.
The High Court’s decision marks a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding the state’s education policies and procedures.
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