Follow law, let schools teach in English: HC

BENGALURU: Observing that the state government's attempts not to implement the Supreme Court's verdict on the language policy borders on contempt, the high court on Friday directed it to permit existing English- medium schools to teach classes 1-5 students in English. "This borders on contempt. This is not a case of pro-mother tongue or anti-mother tongue, pro-English or anti-English. It is implementation of the Supreme Court order by a constitutionally functioning state government," Justice B V Nagarathna said. "Follow the verdict of the high court as well as the apex court which has now become the law of the land," the judge added. A constitution bench of the apex court had last May ruled that the right to choose the medium of instruction vests with parents. The high court also fixed March 31, 2015 as the last date for considering applications for new English-medium schools. Passing an interim order to this effect, Justice Nagarathna said the order would be subject to the result of the curative petition filed by the state government in the apex court. The judge also noted that the state government's November 11, 2014 order permitting only new Kannada- medium schools is nothing but an attempt to resurrect its earlier order of April 29, 1994. "It is apparent that the state government is attempting to resurrect its earlier order in the guise of a notification despite a full bench of this court and a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court categorically negating it. The state government cannot cultivate an attitude wherein it would have its own say despite the ruling of the apex court by way of an executive order," the judge said. Earlier, advocate general Prof Ravivarma Kumar said the government would bring in a new policy once a decision has been made on the curative petition by the apex court and sought for four weeks time. However, the Judge turned down that request. The AG also submitted that the November 11, 2014 notification has nothing do with the apex court's verdict. The court said there is uncertainty in minds of parents despite a Supreme Court judgment. "They (children) cannot be left in the lurch. They should have an equal opportunity. The state cannot deprive students and parents of their rights," the judge said. _TOI