Don’t make Kannada compulsory for UG students till further orders: K’taka HC

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the state government to not make Kannada a compulsory language for first-year undergraduate courses from this academic year.

A division bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum passed the interim order while hearing two petitions that challenged government orders issued on August 7 and September 15, 2021. One of the petitions is filed by students, and the other by the Samskrita Bharati Karnataka Trust.

The petitions had called the Karnataka Government’s move ‘arbitrary’ and in violation of students’ right to freedom and expression.

The court gave liberty to students to select languages of their choice while asking both the State Government and universities not to compel students to choose Kannada as one of the languages.

In the interim order, the court said, “We have considered the submissions. We are of the prima facie view that matter with respect to Kannada Language being made compulsory language in higher studies on the basis of National Education Policy is a question which requires consideration. The state government at this stage shall not insist on making language compulsory. Those students who have taken the Kannada language on the basis of their choice may do so, all such students who do not wish to take the Kannada language shall not be compelled to pursue the Kannada language, till further orders.”

Before this, Additional Solicitor General MB Nardgun had sought time to clarify the stand of the Union Government, as it has to take a decision in consultation with the state governments.

The HC said that the move required careful consideration and has allowed the Union of India four weeks time to file a detailed affidavit explaining the Government of India’s position in the matter.

Advocate General Prabhuling K Navadgi had asked the court to restrict the relief provided from the Government orders to the petitioners only.  To this, the court said, “Don’t politicize the issue, we have clarified it for all students.”