On Thursday:The Karnataka High Court granted permission for the Karnataka government to conduct board exams for grades 5, 8, 9, and 11 in schools affiliated with the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board.
Karnataka: On Thursday, Additional Advocate General Vikram Huilgol, appearing for the state government, sought a stay on the March 6 order on the ground that the single-judge appeared to have misinterpreted some of the state’s submissions on provisions under the Karnataka Education Act.
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“Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter, we are of the considered opinion that the impugned order passed by the learned single judge is required to be stayed,” stated the Court.
He emphasized that no students or parents had approached the High Court regarding this matter and asserted that parents understood the State’s actions were in the public interest.
He urged the Court to stay the single judge’s order and allow the Board Exams to proceed as scheduled on March 11, emphasizing the importance of certainty for students.
it is not good for the students if there is uncertainty about whether the exams will proceed as scheduled on Monday.
The Court also took note of the AAG’s contention that elaborate preparations have already been made for the conduct of the board exams on Monday and that a timetable for the exam was published in December 2023 itself.
“In such circumstances, if the March 6 order is not stayed, the same would prolong the present situation of uncertainty, which is extremely detrimental to the student community virtually on the eve of their examination,” the division bench stated.
Justice Dhananjaya insisted that the matter should be thoroughly examined before any decision allowing the exams to proceed is made and offered to present comprehensive arguments within four hours.
He strongly refuted the state’s claim that the schools held vested interests.
He raised concern that the state was trying to make the matter infructuous by seeking an interim order of stay. Heavens would not fall if the exams were postponed, he added.
He also submitted that the single-judge order to halt the conduct of the board exam was a well-reasoned decision that should not be set-aside by an interim order.
He emphasized that the single judge’s decision to halt the exams was well-reasoned and should not be set aside by an interim order.
