NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to stay the Karnataka High Court judgment on the state’s language policy.
A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justice P Sathasivam and Justice B S Chauhan, which was hearing the petition filed by the state government, declined to grant any interim relief either. However, it stayed contempt proceedings against the government officials.
Senior counsel P P Rao, appearing for the state government submitted that it has been universally approved by educationists all over the world that the best education can be imparted only in the mother tongue. In fact, this position was upheld by the apex court in a judgment in 1994 (1) SCC 550, he said.
Senior counsel Ganguly, appearing for the Associated Management of (Government recognised - Unaided English Medium) Primary and Secondary Schools and Others opposed grant of any interim relief in the matter stating that the parents should have the choice with regard to primary education of the child. If the parents desire that their child should go to school having English as medium of instruction, the choice should respected, he felt.
The government’s stand was supported by certain organisations which are for primacy for Kannada language in Karnataka.
But Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, in his observations said students who studied in the mother tongue schools are unable to get even clerical posts. ``It is easy to say things. How do we survive in this world? Some have the advantage in life. Parents go to any length. They are ready to pay Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 to get admission in English medium schools. They do not want to send their children to mother tongue medium schools. This is the real state of affairs.’’ To this, Rao said the child’s needs should to be taken care of.The bench posted the matter for final hearing in the last week of August.
GOVERNMENT WILL ENSURE POLICY, SAYS MINISTER
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri told reporters that the Apex Court besides staying the contempt proceedings against the government till the issue was resolved, has also directed to maintain the status quo on the matter.
The Minister, however, did not elaborate details on the status quo issue saying that they are yet to study the judgment copy of the Supreme Court.
Earlier, the Apex Court had given a temporary stay upto July 24 against the contempt proceedings.
The next hearing is likely to be in the August third week, the Minister said and added tht the government would continue its efforts to ensure that the language policy is put in place from standard one to fifth. ``Whatever legally can be done from our side will be done from our side to ensure that the police was in place. Ultimately we have to respect the court’s orders,’’ he said.
The July 2, 2008 High Court order striking down the State’s language policy making mother tongue (Kannada) compulsory from standard one stays.