MPHC notice to HRD Ministry

Jabalpur, July 22 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh High Court today ordered issuance of notices to the Human Resource Development Ministry and three others over a plea alleging insult to the Hindi language through non-acceptance of a caste certificate, in that language, submitted during counselling after the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE).

Chief Justice Anang Kumar Patnaik and Justice Sanjay Yadav heard the petition by Bhopal-resident Deepali Kose. The Collector, Bhopal; that city's Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT) and Allahabad's Motilal Nehru Institute of Technology were also made respondents. August 5 was set as the next date for hearing.

''Ms Kose belongs to the Backward Classes and hails from a poor family. Her father is a security guard,'' submitted Advocate Aditya Sanghi.

After passing the higher secondary exam, she cleared AIEEE with high marks. She presented the Hindi certificate -- issued by the Tehsildar, Bhopal -- during counselling at MANIT on July 6. Ms Kose was asked to submit an English certificate on the same day.

The Counsellor rejected Ms Kose's plea that caste certificates were issued only in Hindi in Madhya Pradesh. She was deemed a General Category candidate and allotted a seat in Chemical Engineering though she wanted to study Computer Science.

UNI RG-AC 2102