Karnataka Moves High Court Over SSLC Grading Row
State challenges court order mandating marks system for third language exams, seeks clarity ahead of results
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has approached the High Court by filing a review petition against a recent order that directed authorities to evaluate SSLC examination papers under the existing marking system instead of the newly proposed grading method.
State School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa confirmed the development on Saturday, stating that the Advocate General has already moved the court and the government is prepared to contest the matter.
The issue stems from a High Court directive earlier this week, which instructed officials to follow the rules outlined in the 2025 to 26 academic notification. This effectively meant awarding marks for third language papers rather than using a grading system as announced by the government.
The court’s order came while hearing a petition filed by three students who appeared for the SSLC examinations conducted between March 18 and April 2. The plea challenged the government’s decision to switch to grading for the third language subject during the ongoing academic cycle.
The controversy began after Bangarappa announced on March 27 that the third language paper would move to a grading system that would not affect the overall score of students. The announcement, however, was made before the third language exam was held, leading to confusion and legal challenges.
Addressing reporters, the minister said the government will present its arguments through the review petition and await the court’s response. He added that similar petitions in the past had not succeeded, noting that one public interest litigation on the issue had even attracted a fine, while another filed by Hindi teachers was later withdrawn.
Bangarappa assured students and parents that there is no reason for concern. He said the government will take an appropriate decision based on the court’s observations and ensure that the evaluation process remains fair.
He also said he would discuss the matter with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah before taking further steps. According to him, the case could come up for hearing again early next week.
On the question of SSLC results, which are expected around April 24, the minister indicated there might be a slight delay of a day or two but ruled out any major disruption.
Earlier, the government had proposed reducing the total marks for the SSLC exam from 625 to 525 by removing the 100 marks allocated to the third language and replacing it with a grading system. The move was aimed at easing pressure on students, particularly as many struggle with the subject. Hindi, though not the only third language offered, is the most widely taught across the state.
The minister had also highlighted that several students face difficulties in reading and writing Hindi, and the change was intended to address these concerns while improving overall performance outcomes.