Centre against compulsory Kannada learning in colleges, tells Karanatak HC

The Centre has informed the Karnataka High Court that there is no compulsory language in the National Education Policy.

In a reply filed before the Karnataka High Court central government has stated that Kannada can't be made a compulsory language for undergraduate students as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 makes no mention of any mandatory language learning.

Karnataka High Court (PTI File Photo)

According to an affidavit filed before the Karnataka High Court challenging a state government order Dinesh T Pali, Undersecretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education said, NEP is intended to achieve a comprehensive educational system for citizens while keeping local, regional, and national aspirations in mind. "The policy must be understood, interpreted, and implemented while keeping in mind the broad objectives enshrined in the Constitution," the statement continued.

"Paragraph 22.10 specifically states that higher education institutions will use mother tongue/local language as the medium of instruction and/or offer bilingually. Paragraph 23.6 envisions making a wide range of educational software available to students and teachers at all levels, in all major Indian languages. All states will continue to develop teaching-learning e-content in all regional languages, as will the NCERT, CIET, CBSE, NIOS, and other bodies/institutions, and will be uploaded to the DIKSHA platform," centre's affidavit quoted.

Meanwhile, a division bench led by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi adjourned the hearing to April 4 in response to the Advocate-General's request. The court is hearing a petition filed by some students as well as a PIL filed by Samskrita Bharati (Karnataka) Trust, Bengaluru, and three other institutions associated with the promotion of Sanskrit language/study.

The petitioners claim that forcing students to learn Kannada as a language contradicts the very goal of National Education Policy 2020.

They have also requested that the government order requiring interstate and international degree students pursuing graduate prog program "Functional Kannada" in one of the first year semesters be revoked, claiming that it is an ordeal for a student who has never spoken a single word of Kannada in their lives.

On December 16, 2021, the High Court issued an order prohibiting the state government and Bengaluru University from taking any precipitous action in the matter. The state government, on the other hand, defended the decision, claiming that students from other states would only be required to learn Functional Kannada for a year.