NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday submitted before the Supreme Court that it was pressing ahead with the plan to replace German with Sanskrit as the third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas(KV). However, the government made it clear that no exam would be conducted for Sanskrit in the current session.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted before a Bench headed by Justice A R Dave that the Centre had decided that no examination would be conducted for Sanskrit paper and KV students could also continue with German language as an additional subject in the current session.
The Centre’s decision not to conduct exam for Sanskrit, introduced in the middle of the ongoing session, came after the court during the last hearing, had expressed concern that students would suffer because of the government’s decision.
While submitting the letter of Joint Secretary in the HRD Ministry before the court, Rohatgi said that a decision at the highest level had been taken and according to it, the students would not be required to sit for Sanskrit exams.
“In view of the concern of the court and to ensure that no stress is caused to the students, there will be no examination in this academic session for those students studying Sanskrit, or any other modern Indian language as the third language now, in place of German as the third language, for the remaining part of the current academic year,” the letter stated.
Meanwhile, the students, who had been studying German as the third language, can continue to study the foreign language as an additional subject in the present session, Rohatgi said.
The Bench also accepted the proposal, saying it would not create any additional burden on the students as no exam would be conducted.
“It is a good solution,” Justice Dave said, adding, “Even as a father, I would agree with it. It is a great language to read.”
The Bench, however, did not pass any order as counsel Reena Singh, appearing for a group of parents of KV students, pleaded that she be given some time to consult her clients in order to counter the suggestion put forward by the Centre.
The Bench, thereafter, posted the case for December 8 and reiterated that introduction of Sanskrit was good for students. The Centre’s stand came after the court had asked Rohatgi to consult the HRD Ministry on postponing the implementation of Sanskrit as the third language until the next academic year.