Today, On 11th July, In the mandatory Kannada language case, the Karnataka High Court directed the state to “gear up your machinery” and granted three weeks’ time to file its response, emphasizing the need for timely action and clarity.
The Karnataka High Court instructed the state government to submit its objections within three weeks regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) that contests the mandatory teaching of Kannada in schools.
This PIL was initiated by parents of students enrolled in CBSE and CISCE schools throughout Karnataka.
During a hearing of the 2023 PIL, the bench, consisting of Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi, noted that the government had not responded for over two years.
Consequently, the court remarked,
“Gear up your machinery, otherwise we will consider the application for interim relief.”
The petition challenges several laws, including the Kannada Language Learning Act of 2015, the Kannada Language Learning Rules of 2017, and the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Issue of No Objection Certificate and Control) Rules of 2022.
It references a prior High Court ruling that had stayed similar government mandates requiring Kannada in degree courses and cites a clarification from the Union of India indicating that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 does not endorse the imposition of any specific language.
The petitioners argue that these laws infringe upon students’ rights to select their first, second, and third languages.
They also express concerns that these mandates could adversely affect academic performance, future job prospects, and endanger the livelihoods of teachers instructing in languages other than Kannada.
Additionally, the petitioners assert that these laws exceed the provisions of the Karnataka Education Act of 1983, particularly Rule 6(1) of the NOC Rules, which they claim is improperly applied to CBSE and CISCE schools.
While the petitioners support the teaching of Kannada, they oppose its compulsory implementation, arguing that it violates constitutional principles.
The court has not granted any interim relief at this stage and has issued notices to both the state and central governments.
Senior Advocate Aditya Sondhi appeared for the petitioners. Additional Government Advocate (AGA) Niloufer Akbar represented the respondents.
Case Title: Somashekar C & Others And State of Karnataka & Others , WP 9574/2023