Language policy: State govt. urged to file review petition in Supreme Court

Verdict described as detrimental to the interests of Kannada

Litterateurs fighting for the primacy of Kannada in primary education have expressed shock over the Supreme Court judgment striking down the Government Order making Kannada the medium of instruction in primary schools in the State. They have demanded that the State government file a review petition in the apex court.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that the government cannot impose mother tongue on linguistic minority for imparting primary education.

Describing the judgment as unfortunate, Janpith Award winner Chandrashekar Kambar, urged the government to file a review petition in the Supreme Court to protect the interests of Kannada.

‘Convene meeting’

Kannada Development Authority chairman Mukhyamantri Chandru urged the State government to convene a meeting of Kannada writers, educationists, legal experts and legislators to formulate a common education policy.

He also stressed the need for convening a special session of the State legislature to discuss the implications of the verdict. Both Houses of the legislature should pass a resolution urging the Centre to take steps to safeguard the language by amending the Constitution, he said. Mr. Chandru said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should write to Chief Ministers of other States and garner support for maintaining primacy of regional languages over English. He would also write to Chief Ministers of other States and seek their support for imparting primary education in the regional language of their States, Mr. Chandru said.

Scholar M. Chidananda Murthy described the verdict as detrimental to the interests of Kannada. He said that survival of native culture depended on regional language and the judgment had failed to acknowledge this aspect.

Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj said the government should file a review petition immediately and the Chief Minister should convene a special session of the legislature to discuss the implications of the judgment.

Veteran journalist Patil Puttappa said there was a need for all linguistic States to join hands and fight to protect the interests of regional languages. Children would understand subjects when they were taught in regional language, instead of English, he said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council D.V. Sadananda Gowda said the government should convene a meeting of writers, elected representatives and educationists to discuss the consequences of the verdict.