Teaching Kannada not compulsory in unaided schools: HC

Bangalore, Jul 2 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today rejected the State Government's move to make teaching Kannada compulsory in unaided schools at the primary level.

A three-member Bench, comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph, Ms Justice Manjula Chellur and Mr Justice N Kumar, held that making it compulsory to teach Kannada in unaided schools as per the Language Policy of 1994 was against the Constitution. Parents were at liberty to select the medium of instruction for their wards and making it compulsory to learn only in Kannada or regional language in unaided schools could not be imposed.

However, the Policy could be implemented in Government and aided schools, the court held.

Disposing of a petition filed by the Karnataka Unaided Schools Management Association against the State Language Policy, Mr Justice Cyriac Joseph said learning English was not against the Constitution and one could not claim to improve Kannada by making it compulsory at all primary schools in the State.

The Association had filed a case in the High Court, challenging the Government Order effective from academic year 1995-96. The High Court had stayed operation of the order.

Reacting to the verdict, newly appointed Kannada Development Authority Chairman 'Mukhyamantri Chandru', MLC, expressed regret over the order.

''The order would affect development of Kannada and the Authority would request the State Government to go on an appeal in the Supreme Court,'' he said.

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