In a decisive blow to the Siddaramaiah government’s education reforms, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday upheld the awarding of marks for Hindi in Class 10 SSLC exams, rejecting the shift to grades. The BJP swiftly welcomed the order, branding it a humiliating defeat for Congress and a triumph for academic rigor.
Opposition heavyweight N. Ravi Kumar, speaking to reporters, highlighted the court’s clear mandate: numerical marks for Hindi, not vague grades. ‘This is a massive embarrassment for the Education Minister and the department,’ he said, criticizing decisions as erratic and king-like whims.
Flashback to last month: the government decreed Hindi exams optional, with no penalty for failure and grading over marks. Students and parents, who invested time and effort, challenged this in court, decrying it as devaluing their hard work. The administration defended it by prioritizing Kannada and English, sidelining Hindi.
Justice E.S. Indiresh’s single bench quashed the state’s review plea against a prior ruling, insisting on marks for all third languages from this year through 2025-26. The court wryly observed high pass rates in higher classes and advised: if everyone must pass, scrap exams entirely. Mid-rule changes undermine fairness, it ruled.
Ravi Kumar urged the government to cease such ‘irresponsible’ moves. The verdict restores confidence among students preparing seriously, reinforcing that third languages like Hindi deserve proper assessment. As political lines sharpen ahead of elections, this episode underscores tensions over language policies in Karnataka’s diverse educational framework.
