Language row: Sanskrit to remain third language in schools, decision to affect 75,000

Appearing before a bench headed by Justice A R Dave, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted that the Centre has decided that no examination would be conducted for Sanskrit paper and KV students can also continue with German language as an additional subject in the current session.

The Centre's decision not to conduct exam for Sanskrit, introduced in the mid of the ongoing session, came after the apex court in the last hearing expressed concern that students would be burdened and suffer because of government's decision.

On being asked to "find a way out", Rohatgi said that a decision at the "highest level" has been taken and according to it, the students will not be required to sit for Sanskrit exams and placed before the bench a letter written by a Joint Secretary of HRD Ministry.

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"In view of the concern of the court, and to ensure that no stress is caused to the students, there will be no examination in this academic session for those students studying Sanskrit, or any other modern Indian language as the third language now, in place of German as the third language, for the remaining part of the current academic year," the letter said.

Meanwhile, the students, who had been studying German as third language, can continue to study the foreign language as an additional subject in the present session, Rohatgi said.
The bench also accepted the proposal saying that it would not create any additional burden on the students as no exam would be conducted. "It is a good solution," Justice Dave said, adding, "Even as a father I would agree with it."

The bench, however, did not pass any formal order as advocate Reena Singh, appearing for a group of parents of Kendriya Vidyalaya students, pleaded that she should be given some time to counter the suggestion given by the Centre and consult her clients.

The bench, thereafter, posted the case for December 8 and reiterated that introduction of Sanskrit is good for students.The Centre's stand came after the apex court had asked Rohatgi to consult the HRD ministry on postponing the implementation of the decision on Sanskrit to the next academic year.

"Think from students and parents point of view. Let this academic year continue and you better implement it next year," it had said.

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The court was hearing a PIL filed by a group of parents of KV students who challenged Centre's decision to replace German language with Sanskrit in the middle of the ongoing academic session.

The Board of Governors (BoG) of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), headed by HRD Minister Smriti Irani, had in its meeting on October 27 decided that "teaching of German language as an option to Sanskrit will be discontinued herewith". German has been kept as an additional subject for students.

The decision is expected to affect over 75,000 students across 500 KVs from classes 6 to 8 who will be asked to switch from German to Sanskrit. Challenging the decision, the petitioners had said, "The KVS has failed to take into account the pertinent fact that such a decision cannot be taken mid-session as it would amount to throwing into complete disarray the overall academic preparation of the affected students." 

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