Compulsory Kannada for higher education will create problems for students: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday expressed its reservations about making Kannada compulsory for students in higher education stating that it would open a Pandora's box as other States could also raise claim to make their regional languages mandatory for students [Samskrita Bharati Karnataka Trust vs Union of India and ors]..A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice SS Magadum said that such a decision will create difficulties for students especially from other States. "This will create a problem. Tomorrow Tamil Nadu will say we will have Tamil as a compulsory language, Uttar Pradesh will want Hindi to be compulsory for graduation. Every State will impose its language. For students it will be difficult," the Court remarked..The Court was hearing a plea seeking to quash two government orders dated August 7, 2021 and September 15, 2021 which makes learning Kannada mandatory for students at graduation level.The plea also sought a declaration that NEP does not impose any restriction upon the student to choose any particular language as part of the curricula for higher education..The plea stated that the government orders are contrary to the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of India.The said orders take away the freedom to choose a language for study and makes it mandatory for all students in Karnataka to take up Kannada as a language in degree courses offered in all streams of science, commerce and arts.Thus, there is a restriction on freedom of speech and expression enshrined under the Constitution of India, the petition said..Senior Advocate SS Naganand appearing for the petitioners, Samskrita Bharati Karnataka Trust, contended that the government orders are contrary to the National Education Policy, 2020 (NEP).."It is contrary to the vision and objective of the NEP," he said.He submitted that the decision would affect a total of 1,32,000 students in the State. The Court asked him whether there was any pan-India order making any regional language compulsory in the country.."Not for higher education," Naganand responded. "For example, if a student from Delhi comes to Karnataka for higher studies, how can he study Kannada? It would be impossible to work it out. It will practically lead to some kind of island in our State," he elaborated. .Naganand submitted that the new decision of the State would come into force in one month and many college teachers would also be affected. "No student will be able to take other language options such as Hindi, Sanskrit etc (for second language). Many teachers will lose their livelihood."."Is it not provided Under national educational policy," asked the Court."In fact, NEP provides for the opposite - there is nothing in the whole policy to make a local language compulsory during graduation," Naganand replied."What about convent schools?" the Court further queried. "In every school, the students have choice to learn a language. In my case, I took Hindi as my first language," said Naganand.As the matter drew to a close, the Court said that it would hear the counsel on the point of interim relief on Friday. The Court also directed that notice be served to the State government as well as the Union of India. .Later, Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi informed the Court that he would not be available for hearing on Friday. The Court then assured him that it would not pass an order on the point of interim relief without hearing him. .Karnataka High Court seeks State govt response on plea against decision to make Kannada compulsory in schools .In another case, a 4th standard student had moved the Karnataka High Court challenging the decision of the State government to teach Kannada as a compulsory language in all schools in Karnataka, Justice R Devdas had issued notice in that case which is also expected to be heard this month.