The state government has decided to file a review petition before the Supreme Court challenging its judgment on the medium of instruction in primary schools. The government is also ready to bring in a legislation, if necessary, in this regard after consultations.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who chaired a meeting of Kannada writers, legal experts, academicians and representatives from pro-Kannada outfits on Friday, said the petition would be filed before the court after another round of discussions with legal experts. The May 6 judgment contradicted its own judgment delivered in favour of imparting primary education in the mother tongue in 1993, he said.
The four-hour meeting witnessed a host of suggestions to protect the interest of Kannada. The Chief Minister said the state government was ready to do anything in this regard.
The judgment is applicable to the entire country and different regional languages in the respective states. The state government was contemplating bringing in a law to make Kannada the state language and the medium of instruction in primary education.
Siddaramaiah assured that he would try to discuss the issue with chief ministers of other states too as it affects regional languages in all the states.
The issue would also be raised at the next National Development Council meeting in New Delhi, Siddaramaiah said. Earlier, state Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar made a detailed analysis of the legal aspects of the verdict and said the judgment contained several contradictions. He suggested filing a review petition.
Writer Hampa Nagarajaiah appealed to Siddaramaiah to convene a meeting of other chief ministers in Bangalore to put up a collective fight against the verdict. Justice M Rama Jois said all commissions of education experts set up so far have recommended teaching primary education in mother tongue.
He supported the view to file a review petition.
Jnanpith awardee U R Ananthmurthy termed the judgement “unscientific” and urged the state government to take steps to improve infrastructure and quality of education in government-run schools.
The judgment was a big blow on the federal structure of the country, he said.
Historian and Kannada writer M Chidanandamurthy said that survival of native culture depended on the regional language and the judgment has failed to acknowledge that aspect.
Kananda Sahitya Parishat president Pundalika Halambi, Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad, Kannada Development Authority chairman Mukhyamantri Chandru and former KDA chairman Baragur Ramachandrappa were among the others who presented their suggestions.