Karnataka government has scheduled board examinations for Classes 5, 8, 9, and 11 to be held on March 11

On Thursday, the Karnataka High Court halted an order issued by a single-judge bench that invalidated the state government's notification to hold board examinations for Classes 5, 8, 9, and 11.

The state government had issued a directive to administer board exams for students in the 5th, 8th, and 9th grades for the academic year 2023-24. The association of unaided schools contested the government's directive in the HC. After hearing the petition, a single-member bench stayed the government's directive. Subsequently, the government lodged an appeal against this decision.

Under the leadership of Justice Krishna Dixit, a single bench has ruled against the state government, favoring arguments put forth by the Registered Unaided Private Schools Association. These arguments assert that conducting such examinations would conflict with the emphasis on continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE) for these grades as outlined in the Right to Education Act (RTE).

Challenges to the Education Department's notices were brought by the Organisation for Unaided Recognised Schools and the Registered Unaided Private Schools' Management Association. However, a division bench later permitted the examinations with certain modifications. The Karnataka state government introduced these changes for class 9 through a notification issued in September 2023.