File photo: Supreme Court of India
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Tuesday raised the issue of whether English could be considered an indigenous language as it refused to stay the implementation of CBSE’s decision to make the three-language scheme mandatory for Class 6 from the current academic session.CBSE’s plan, it said, appeared to advance the constitutional goal of promoting Hindi and regional languages.It, however, was reluctant to allow the plea for staying the three-language scheme without a detailed hearing.
Books for only 3 of 22 languages made available on NCERT website: Counsel
As a host of senior advocates challenged the scheme despite CBSE rolling back its instructions to make the three-language scheme mandatory for Class IX from the current academic session, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana sought responses from the Centre and CBSE.It, however, was reluctant to allow the plea to stay the scheme without a detailed hearing. “The notification is carrying ahead the constitutional goal of learning Hindi and other regional languages. Nomenclature of indigenous languages and what constitutes indigenous language may require a relook,” said the bench as it posted the matter for hearing on July 22.On behalf of fresh petitioners, the counsel argued that though children had been given a choice of 22 languages, it was impossible for schools to employ those many teachers and create infrastructure. They said books for only three of the 22 languages were available on the NCERT website despite promises that all would be uploaded by July 1.Additional solicitor general Aishwa-rya Bhati said govt and CBSE would file their responses in 10 days.The Centre, in its response to the earlier petitions, said, “National Education Policy envisions an education system rooted in Indian ethos that contributes directly to transforming India, that is Bharat, sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society.”It said according to NEP, the three-language formula would continue to be implemented while keeping in mind constitutional provisions, aspirations of the people, regions and the Union, and the need to promote multilingualism as well as promote national unity. “However, there will be greater flexibility in the three-language formula, and no language will be imposed on any state,” the Centre said.
