The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to continue valuing answer scripts for the SSLC third language exam for 2025–26 in the usual marks system, rejecting the proposed shift to a grading system.

Justice E S Indiresh passed the order by disposing of the review petition filed by the state government seeking to review the order dated April 15.

The court reiterated that it is the duty of the state to continue the valuation system as per the norms prevailing before the announcement of exams and it cannot deviate from it.

However, considering the certain modifications sought by the Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty in the April 15 order, the court clarified that it will not come in the way of state’s decision if it gohead with the gradation by bringing amendments to necessary rules in accordance with the law.

In view of the state government itself informing that the valuation of the answer scripts of SSLC examination of the academic year 2025-26 will be conducted as per the norms prevailing as on the date of the issuance of the notification for the examination, the High Court on April 15 directed the state to follow the same by conducting the valuation of answer scripts, instead of the grading system of the third language.

The order was passed on April 15, after recording the statement made by the government advocate in response to the petition filed by three students, expressing the apprehension about the recent remark made by Minister for Primary and Secondary Education introducing the grading system in the valuation of the third language of the SSLC examination.

The three students, Sahana R Naik of Chikkamagaluru district, Anusha and Sudhiksha of Udupi district, who appeared for the recently held SSLC examination, moved the high court seeking directions to the state to follow the circular dated October 28, 2025, issued by the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board about the valuation of the answer scripts.

When the matter was taken up for hearing, the additional government advocate submitted that the valuation for the SSLC examination will be conducted as per the circular prevailing as of the date of the examination.

Recording the same, the court directed the state to conduct the valuation of the recently conducted examination of SSLC as per the existing rules which were prevailing as on the date of the issuance of notification for the examination of the academic year 2025-26.

Responding to this, D Shashi Kumar, general secretary, Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka welcomed the HC ruling. “Some unreasonable people with a bias and impractical approach tend to rake these things up. We are glad that the court has called this out and reinstated that students will be granted marks just like in other subjects and not mere grades.”

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