Karnataka High Court Orders Restoration of SSLC Third Language Marks, Results May Be Delayed
Court cancellations grading system for third language and directs return to 625-mark scheme, appeal may impact result announcement
In a major development for students across Karnataka, the Karnataka High Court has set aside the state government’s decision to replace marks with grades for third language subjects in the SSLC examination. The court has directed authorities to restore the original 625-mark system with immediate effect.
The ruling came from a bench led by Justice E S Indiresh, who was hearing a petition filed by Sahana R Naik from Chikkamagaluru along with others. The court made it clear that marks must be recorded for subjects like Hindi and other third languages, stating that shifting to a grading system could negatively affect students’ academic progress and future opportunities.
The court also highlighted the importance of transparency in the evaluation process. Referring to examination norms and the Right to Education, it stressed that marks for every subject should be clearly documented rather than replaced with grades.
However, there is uncertainty regarding the announcement of results. Officials from the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board are currently consulting legal experts on whether to challenge the order before a division bench. If the government files an appeal, the results could be delayed as the matter would then be under legal consideration. This may also push back the schedule for supplementary exams.
On the technical side, evaluators confirmed that the correction process for the third language was completed on April 15, and marks have already been uploaded into the system. This means implementing a marks-based result should not pose any technical difficulty.
The sudden shift has created concern among students. Many had prepared for a grading system and may not have approached the third language exam with the same seriousness. With marks now being restored, there are fears that more students could struggle to meet passing criteria.
Earlier, under the proposed system, students needed 173 out of 525 marks to pass. With the court’s decision, the third language once again carries 100 marks, taking the total score back to 625.