Tuesday (12th March): The Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the Karnataka State school board examinations for grades 5, 8, 9, and 11. The decision comes after concerns were raised about the legality of the exams under the Right to Education Act. The court directed the Karnataka government to cease the exams immediately and expedite the resolution of the matter.
NEW DELHI: On Tuesday, March 12: The Supreme Court of India suspended the ongoing school examinations for students in grades 5, 8, 9, and 11 across Karnataka. The decision that followed came in response to an appeal by the Registered Unaided Private Schools Management Association of Karnataka, challenging the state’s decision to conduct these exams.
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The bench, led by Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal, found the Karnataka government’s actions to be in preliminary violation of the Right to Education Act, specifically Section 30, which prohibits such examinations.
The bench issued a directive stating that the exams, which were declared illegal by a single-judge ruling, should not have continued as they impact the examination system and students’ careers.
It was explicitly stated that these exams were to be discontinued. Near the conclusion of the hearing, Justice Mithal instructed the Karnataka government’s counsel, urging them to act immediately, not waiting for the formal publication of the order.”
The consortium of private unaided schools was represented by Advocate KV Dhananjay. The issue escalated before the Supreme Court following a division bench of the Karnataka High Court’s decision. The bench had previously allowed the state to conduct board examinations for the mentioned grades, set aside the March 6 ruling by a single judge that had stayed these exams.
The Karnataka government, through Kamat, argued that
“these were not board exams per se but “summative assessments” designed not to detain students but to evaluate their academic progress. Kamat cited that these assessments were critical for academic preparation and ensuring students’ readiness for future board exams”.
Kamat pointed out that Section 16 of the Right to Education Act mandates such examinations, highlighting the necessity to evaluate the education imparted in classrooms, which may not always meet the required standards.
Justice Mithal criticized the state’s approach, stating, “The entire examination system in the state has been compromised, and attempts are now being made to rectify it.”
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Justice Trivedi added that board examinations are inherently stressful for students.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court decided to consider the appeals and suspend the examinations. It also instructed the High Court to quickly resolve the ongoing issue, emphasizing the need for prompt action due to the urgency of the situation.
However, the Supreme Court bench questioned the effectiveness and necessity of such exams. Justice Mithal pointedly criticized the state’s examination system’s disruption, while Justice Trivedi expressed concern over the undue stress placed on students.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court sided with the appellants, staying the examinations and emphasizing the need for a swift resolution by the High Court, given the urgent nature of the case.
