Karnataka SSLC Students to Receive Marks Instead of Grades for Third Language

Karnataka High Court’s Clarification

The Karnataka High Court has confirmed that students appearing for the Senior School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination will receive marks for their third language course, rather than grades, for the current academic year. This ruling emphasizes that any changes to examination protocols, including grading systems, will not take effect until the subsequent academic year.

This judicial clarification comes in response to concerns raised through a petition by three students. Their advocate, R V Naik, highlighted remarks made by Karnataka’s School Education Minister, Madhu Bangarappa, suggesting that the scores achieved in the third language would be excluded from the final calculation of SSLC scores.

In court proceedings, Additional Government Advocate H K Kenchegowda confirmed that the evaluation process would adhere to the existing guidelines as outlined in the relevant circular. Justice E S Indiresh, presiding over the case, stated that the state’s evaluation methods should remain unchanged in the absence of new rules or guidelines that would allow for such modifications during the examination period.

Judicial Rationale

The bench reiterated a fundamental legal principle: alterations to examination procedures are not permissible once the examination notification has been issued. They underscored the importance of maintaining stability and following the established guidelines that were communicated to students prior to the examinations.

Additionally, the Court noted that any deviations from these established rules could violate Article 14 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees equality before the law. It insisted that the rules valid at the time of the notification for the 2025–26 academic year must remain consistently applicable.

Reactions from Educational Associations

The decision was met with a positive response from D Shashi Kumar, the secretary of the Association of Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools of Karnataka. He praised the court’s intervention and cautioned the government against implementing sudden policy changes during the examination period, as they could disrupt students’ academic futures.

Kumar specifically pointed out the potential risks posed to students by the earlier suggestion that excluded third language scores while exams were still ongoing. He emphasized the importance of adhering to stable policies to ensure students are assessed fairly.