The Karnataka high court’s temporary halt on the Karnataka government’s decision to administer board exams for grades 5th, 8th and 9th for the state syllabus has been overturned by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The apex court has referred the matter to a division bench, leading to the postponement of the exams by the government, according to the Indian Express.
The decision comes after the supreme court accepted appeals from the Registered Unaided Private Schools Association, challenging the interim order of the High Court’s division bench issued on March 7. This order had halted a previous judgement by a single bench, which had invalidated the government’s plan to hold board exams for Classes 5, 8, 9, and 11. It’s noted that exams for Class 11 have already concluded, while those for grades 5th, 8th and 9th began on March 11 and are scheduled to end on March 18, as per the statement.
The Karnataka State Examination and Assessment Board had introduced a ‘centralised annual examination’ for grades 5th and 8th in the previous academic year, and the government extended this to grade 9th and first PUC through a September 2023 notification. The notification stated that students failing the exam would not be detained, with only the student and their parents informed of the results. However, for the first PUC exam, the board would conduct a supplementary examination at the college level for students who fail to pass.