Karnataka HC orders restoration of SSLC third language marks; results may be delayed if govt appeals

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Apr 17, 2026: In a major legal development, the Karnataka High Court has set aside the state government’s decision to replace marks with grades for third language subjects in the SSLC examination. The court directed authorities to restore the total marks to 625, but officials warned that the announcement of results could be delayed if the government chooses to challenge the verdict.

High Court’s Strong Observations

A single-judge bench of Justice E S Indiresh, hearing a petition filed by Sahana R Naik from Chikkamagaluru and others, ruled that marks must be awarded for Hindi and other third language subjects. The court noted that reducing the total score to 525 and assigning only grades (A, B, C) could harm students’ academic interests and affect their future opportunities in higher education.

The bench stressed that, under examination norms and the Right to Education, it is essential to maintain transparency by recording marks for every subject.

Possible Appeal May Delay Results

Following the ruling, the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) is consulting legal experts, including former Advocate General Prof Ravivarma Kumar, on whether to file an appeal before a division bench. Sources said that if a writ appeal is filed, the result declaration could be put on hold as the matter would become sub judice. This may also delay the conduct of Annual Examination-2 (supplementary exams).

No Technical Hurdle in Restoring Marks

Evaluation of the third language papers was completed on April 15. Evaluators have already recorded and uploaded marks as per standard procedure. Officials and teachers stated that issuing marks-based results would not pose any technical difficulty, as the data is already available in the system.

Reacting to the development, Shashidhar, state president of the State Third Language Organizing Committee, said they have filed a caveat to ensure their side is heard if the government moves an appeal.

Student Concerns Over New Criteria

The development has caused anxiety among students. Since the government had earlier announced a grading system, many students reportedly did not take the third language exam seriously. There are concerns that restoring a marks-based system could increase the number of failures.

As per the government’s earlier proposal, students needed 173 out of 525 to pass. With the High Court’s order, the third language regains its original weightage of 100 marks, restoring the total score to 625.