Karnataka - Bangalore

Detailed hearing must before orders: court

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday refused to pass any orders in a petition challenging the Government's action in framing a voluntary scheme for educational institutions, particularly schools, violating the medium of instruction.

The State had, on April 12, 2007, framed the scheme under which schools violating the undertaking they had given on the medium of instruction were permitted to pay a fine. The scheme was drawn up consequent to the withdrawal of recognition of these institutions that did not confirm to the State's policy on the medium of instruction. The State had found that many schools had violated the undertaking they had given to the Education Department and were teaching students in 1st to 5th standards in English, though they had taken permission to start schools with Kannada as the medium of instruction.

When the matter came up today, trusts operating educational institutions in Bangalore, Aniketana, Devi Education, Mathruvani, Annapoorneshwari and Chandana, urged the court to stay the April 12 scheme and also ensure that the authorities continued the recognition of the schools operated by the trusts. The petitioners contended that the scheme was not voluntary and that those schools that did not accept it would have to face action.

The Government said the scheme is voluntary and it applies to only those institutions that have violated the undertaking. It opposed the interim prayer sought for by the petitioners.

Justice V. Jagannathan adjourned further hearing in the case, saying that the petition needed to be heard in detail before any orders could be passed.

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