The Supreme Court on Friday appreciated the government’s decision to make Sanskrit the mandatory third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas but asked the Centre to defer its implementation to the next academic session.
“There is no harm to make it the third language. But, why during the mid-session when the children are getting ready for their final exams. Don’t punish the students for the government’s mistake,” said a bench of justices AR Dave and Kurien Joseph.
The bench was concerned that asking the students of Classes 6 to 8 to move to Sanskrit mid-session would put additional burden on them. It advised attorney general Mukul Rohatgi to let Sanskrit be the optional subject for the present academic year.
“Let the children get initiated to it (Sanskrit) but as an optional subject for the time being. When the fresh academic session begins in 2015, make it the third language as per your notification,” the bench told the AG while hearing a petition challenging the notification to substitute German with Sanskrit as the third language in KVs.
The court said it was in favour of teaching Sanskrit as it was the mother tongue for all the Indian languages.
{{/usCountry}}The court said it was in favour of teaching Sanskrit as it was the mother tongue for all the Indian languages.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, the AG said no undue pressure would be put on the students as those learning Sanskrit for the first time would learn the language taught at the entry level. He said since the examinations of the three classes are internal, the teachers would not be harsh with the students on marking too.