[Karnataka second PUC exam] Karnataka High Court directs State to refrain from publishing results of freshers till comprehensive decision taken

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday ordered the the State government to refrain from publishing the results of freshers of the Karnataka Pre-University College (PUC) exam till a comprehensive decision is taken for all categories regarding the exam..A Division Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Hanchate Sanjeevkumar ordered,“Pending a comprehensive decision to be taken by state, it shall not announce results of those who have not taken the second PUC exams (freshers).”.The order was passed on a petition challenging the different yardsticks adopted by the State for promoting repeaters, private students and fresher students for second PUC exam amid the COVID-19 pandemic..The Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) had announced its decision to promote regular/fresher students of second PUC based on first PUC exam while deciding to hold examinations only for repeaters by way of a notification dated June 3, 2021..The Court was informed that the State would take a decision after a twelve-member expert committee gives its report in the matter..“Needless to observe that a comprehensive decision shall be taken bearing in mind all categories of students,” the Court further directed..The Court was informed that various categories of students in the second PUC exam. Freshers are those students who are yet to take PUC for the first time and there are about 5 lakh such students..Repeaters are those who have withdrawn their results in order to improve their performance or have failed and therefore, have to re-appear..This category includes private students as well, who are not part of the PUC system, the Court was told..The Additional Government Advocate submitted that private students are those who have not studied in the PUC system and such students, in the absence of any data available, would have to appear for the examination when the pandemic subsides..The Court noted that the concern ventilated by petitioner is not so much with regard to private students but with regard to repeaters who have studied first PUC and therefore have sought parity, with the others..“Ultimately, if things were normal, everyone would have sat for exams. Asking these people (repeaters) to attend exams, is what they are questioning. Don’t hold exams till the 12-member expert committee gives a report. Don’t give results to the first year also. They will get results and move on….repeaters will be stuck. You have to have parity,” the Court observed. .During the hearing, the Court also elaborated on the need for having a level-playing field for students.“Everyone must be on a level playing field to get admission to a college. For what reason they failed, for what reason they want to write exams, let us not be judgmental. There must be a level playing field.”.As the matter drew to a close, the Court observed that,“Put repeaters and freshers in the same basket, minus private students.”.The matter was adjourned to July 5.