Karnataka govt files review petition on SSLC exam order

Bengaluru: State govt has filed a review petition before Karnataka high court over its April 15 order which said evaluation of the SSLC exam for third language should be done as per existing rules, i.e., with marks, and not under a grading system.The review petition is likely to come up for hearing on Tuesday.State govt has claimed that the petitioners, three students who sat in the SSLC exam, suppressed material facts by not disclosing that a PIL on the same issue, relying upon the exact same news report about a statement made by the school education minister, was dismissed by a division bench of the high court with Rs 1 lakh cost on April 10.The govt has argued that the petitioners also failed to disclose the April 10 notification by which draft rules were published to amend regulations and adopt a grading system for third language/subjects under National Scheme Qualification Framework (NSQF), effective from the 2025-26 SSLC exam.The review petition says the grading system was adopted to reduce exam stress and bring about a level playing field between urban and rural students. It pointed out that the petitioners had neither challenged the April 10 notification nor disclosed this fact to the court.The govt further contended that the petitioners could not insist upon following the Oct 28, 2025, circular as finalisation of the draft rules notified on April 10 would override that circular.NSQF covers subjects like Automobile, Information Technology, Electronics, Beauty and Wellness, Apparels and Retails. These subjects have been chosen in lieu of third language for the past more than 10 years, the govt said in its review petition. These subjects, just like the third language, are to be entered as additional subjects in the marks card and are not to be considered for passing with effect from 2025-26, the govt stated.The three students who sat in the SSLC exam had approached high court expressing apprehension about the remark made by the education minister that grading system would be introduced in the SSLC exam.Justice ES Indiresh disposed of the petition by directing authorities to conduct evaluation as per the rules prevailing on the date of notification of the SSLC exam.The judge said it was a "well-settled principle in law that there shall not be any change in the rules of the game midway".
Get real-time updates and result insights on the UBSE UK Board Results 2026 and CBSE 12th Result 2026