Date:30/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123059980600.htm

Karnataka

Government urged to implead itself in petition

Special Correspondent

Seminar discusses issue concerning classical status
for Kannada

BANGALORE: Participants at a seminar on whether the classical status for Kannada conferred by the Union Government has made a difference to the actual state of the language have demanded that the State Government take steps to implead itself in the pending writ petition on the issue before the Madras High Court.

The seminar, organised by the Karnataka Kaigarika Mattu Vanijyodyama Kannada Sanghagala Okkuta here on Monday, had participants expressing anxiety over the Government’s “complacent” attitude in the matter. Any delay in responding to the issue legally would prove detrimental to the State, they said.

Karnataka High Court advocate and Kannada activist C.H. Hanumanthraya said that hearing a writ petition filed by R. Gandhi, which argued that it was improper and illegal for the experts committee to decide whether Kannada and Telugu be accorded the classical status, the Madras High Court had only ruled that the decision of the experts committee is conditioned by the verdict on the writ petition.

It had pronounced its ruling before instructing the authorities concerned to issue notices to the respondents, he said.

As the State had not been made a respondent, many individuals were encouraged to think that the writ petition was not maintainable.

Even the Government believed that if it urged the Madras High Court to consider it as a respondent, it might lead to adverse legal developments.

It should realise that it should plead and convince the Madras High Court that it was a natural respondent as the issue was a sensitive State subject. It should consult legal experts from the State and approach the Madras High Court in compliance with the governing judicial procedures, he said.

Following the initiatives taken by two individuals D. N. Venkataramanaih, an advocate, and Deepak Thimmaiah, to become respondents in the pending case, the chances of the issue reaching the Supreme Court could not be ruled out. The Government would be at the receiving end if it was to ignore its responsibility in protecting the State’s interest, Mr. Hanumantharaya said.