As time runs out for Kendriya Vidyalaya students nearing the end of their academic year and facing final exams, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the NDA government not to unsettle them by replacing German with Sanskrit as the third language this year.
“Why don’t you permit students to study German?” a Bench of Justices Anil R. Dave and Kurian Joseph asked Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi.
The Bench suggested that the government continue with German as the third language as there were only a few months left in this academic year.
A government affidavit in the court had suggested otherwise.
It said interested students could pursue German as a “hobby course or an additional subject” but not as the third language.
“Do the ulta [reverse]. You test Sanskrit this year itself, make it compulsory as an additional subject. But let German continue this year as the third language,” Justice Joseph observed.
Illegal, says RohatgiMr. Rohatgi countered that continuing with German as the third language was “completely illegal.” He, however, sought time till December 5 to consult on Justice Joseph’s suggestion.
