Karnataka SSLC exams to be held as scheduled, HC dismisses PIL demanding cancellation

SSLC exams will be held for two days. The first papers — Science, Maths and Social Science — will be clubbed in one paper on July 19 and the second paper on languages will be held on July 22.

SSLC examination will be held and the question paper will contain only multiple-choice questions. (Representational image)

The Karnataka High Court on Monday cancelled the public interest litigation (PIL) filed against the state’s decision to conduct SSLC (class 10 exams). The Karnataka SSLC exam 2021 will be held for the academic year 2020-21 as per the schedule. The dates for the exams were decided to be July 19 and July 22, 2021.

The SSLC exams will be held for two days. The first papers — Science, Maths and Social Science — will be clubbed in one paper on July 19 and the second paper on languages will be held on July 22. Both the examinations will be held between 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Suresh Kumar said, “All teachers will be vaccinated within a week to have them prepared for exams.”

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The division bench, comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Hanchate Sanjeevkumar dismissed the petition by S V Singre Gowda, who had challenged holding of the exam on the grounds that the COVID-19 pandemic was not yet over.

He had argued that the government had cancelled the Pre-University College Second year exam. Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi explained all the precautionary measures taken by the education department for the smooth conduct of the exam.

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Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said that by dismissing the petition, the High Court has rewarded the state government’s decision to conduct the exams, keeping in mind the interest of the children. The Karnataka government has vaccinated 95 per cent of the staff who would be deployed for SSLC examination duty, said Kumar.

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According to the minister, of the total 1.33 lakh staff who will be deployed for examination duty, 1.3 lakh received their first dose, as per the data collected by the Department of Primary and Secondary Education. As many as 48,938 have received their second shot as well. “Another 3,404 people will get vaccinated in a couple of days,” the minister added