State can conduct public exams for Classes 5 and 8, but no failing students, says K’taka HC

BENGALURU: A division bench of the Karnataka High Court on Friday allowed a petition filed by the state government on conducting public exams for Classes 5 and 8, but with certain conditions. The court directed the government to conduct the examinations from March 27 and said that no student should be failed.

After the Education Department filed an additional affidavit on Wednesday, a division bench of Justices Narendar and Ashok Kinagi stayed the single-judge bench order and asked the state government to stick to the syllabus, to conduct the public exam on a trial basis and to ensure that there is no pressure on students.

A single-judge bench of Justice Pradeep Singh Yerur had last Friday ordered cancellation of state board-level examinations for students of Classes 5 and 8. The examinations were scheduled to be commence from March 13 and the high court bench had directed the state government to revise the schedule.

The single-judge bench had also said that the order is applicable only for this academic year and all rules should be followed from next year, before conducting board-level exams. The judge also said that the annual examinations should be conducted as earlier and the evaluation of answer scripts should be done at school level. The court issued the order after hearing a petition filed by the unaided schools’ association.

The state government had challenged this order before a division bench and sought that it be struck down. The division bench had on Saturday lat directed the government not to go ahead with conducting the examinations till it pronounces its verdict.

Karnataka Unaided Schools Managements’ Association (KUSMA) secretary Shashikumar welcomed the high court order. While advocate K V Dhananjaya argued on behalf of KUSMA, Assistant AG Dhyan Chinnappa argued for the government.