Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the state government in connection with the petition filed by a 10-year-old boy studying in Class 4, questioning the decision to make the Kannada language compulsory.
Keertan Suresh, studying in Bishop Cotton’s Boys School in Bengaluru, represented by his mother N. Sujatha, challenged the constitutional validity of the Kannada Language Learning Act. It makes the teaching of Kannada mandatory as a first or secondary language in all schools. This law includes the schools affiliated to the CBSE and ICSE.
The petition claimed that the Act is harsh, draconian, and discriminatory and also violates the spirit of the Constitution.
It seeks to stop the Karnataka government from implementing Act, 2015 in institutions that teach CBSE and ICSE streams. “Unreasonable restrictions are imposed. Articles 19 and 30 of the constitution are violated.” The need of the student resettled in the state after the transfer of parents has to be addressed.
The bench of the Karnataka High Court, headed by Justice R. Devdas, took up the case and ordered notice be issued to the Karnataka government.
