The schools which had violated the undertaking with regard to the medium of instruction got a rap on their knuckles with the Karnataka High Court observing, “ you have cheated students once, but you cannot cheat them all the time.”
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice B S Patil made it clear, while indicating to the managements, either opt for the voluntary scheme or face the music. The Bench was hearing an appeal filed by 1,011 schools challenging the order of the single judge bench which had directed them to file affidavits reporting compliance of the order pertaining to the medium of instruction. The managements also called in question the validity of the voluntary scheme of the government which gave the managements liberty to pay a fine in order to obtain re-recognition.
When the appeal came up for the hearing, on Monday, the Bench emphasised that the managements had to follow the order of the single judge bench and give an undertaking reporting compliance. “If the undertaking is not given, then it would amount to violation of the High Court order,” the Bench headed by the Chief Justice also observed.
Children's plight
The court observed that it had all sympathy for the children, but not  for the managements with regard to the issue. “You have cheated not only the students but also the government. The managements have been violating the norms by bribing the officials in the education department for many years, the court stated.
While dealing with the voluntary scheme which indicates that managements must pay fine to obtain re-recognition. The court said that the fine would be subject to the result of the writ appeal.
Not language policy
The CJ made it clear that the matter is completely different from the language policy of the state govt. The court would not be right to relate this issue with the language policy. Orders on the petition challenging the language policy have been reserved by the Full Bench of the High Court.
HIGHLIGHTS
* The court will not stay the de-recognition of the schools
* The managements must file affidavits reporting compliance of the order
For students of 1 standard, Kannada should be the medium of instruction
* For students already studying in II to IV standards, education could be imparted in English