Date:05/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110557000500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Languages panel appeals against writ plea

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Official Languages Commission, represented by Chairman A. B. K. Prasad, on Tuesday filed an affidavit in Madras High Court, impleading as a party in the case filed by R. Gandhi, an advocate.

In his writ petition filed sometime ago, Mr. Gandhi questioned the validity of the Linguists’ Committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Culture to consider applications to accord classical status to a language.

He stated that members for the committee were not properly selected.

The Commission took this immediate step as a top priority because the Ministry, while according to classical status to Telugu and Kannada, stated that its decision was subject to final disposal of the case filed by Mr. Gandhi by the Madras High Court.

Seeks dismissal

The AP Official Languages Commission, in its petition, appealed to the High Court that the writ filed by Mr. Gandhi be dismissed as he failed to explain the jurisdiction of the Madras High Court over a matter relating to a language dealt by the Union government.