BENGALURU: In a big relief for the state government, a division bench of the Karnataka high court on Friday permitted it to conduct the remaining summative assessment-2( SA-2) examination for classes 5,8 and 9.
Allowing the writ appeals filed by the state government against an order passed by a single bench on March 6, the bench comprising Justices K Somashekar and Rajesh Rai K also asked the state government to complete the remaining exercise vis-a-vis class 11 examination,which was held during the pendency of the petitions.
It may recalled that citing procedural defects, a single bench had quashed the notifications while allowing the petitions filed by the Organization for Unaided Recognized Schools and Registered Unaided Private Schools Management Association, Karnataka.
The October 6, 2023 notification provided for appointing the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB)as the competent authority to conduct the Summative Assessment-2 (SA-2) for classes 5th, 8th and 9th and the annual examination for class 11th, for students studying in government, aided and unaided schools and colleges in Karnataka, following the
Karnataka State Board Syllabus.
The notification dated October 9,2023, issued under Section 22 of the Education Act read with Section 15(a)(iv) of the Act, 1966, permitting the KSEAB to conduct the SA-2 examination, subject to a government Order being issued in this regard every academic year. Subsequently, on November 16 ,2023,a government order came to be issued.
However, on March 7,2024, the division bench had stayed the operation of the single bench's order. A couple of days later, the said interim order was set aside by the Supreme court, after hearing the special leave petitions filed by the private school managements.
The top court had also indicated that the division bench of the high court can decide the matter. The division bench then heard the matter for three days and reserved the judgement early this week.