Karnataka opposes new Marathi schools in Sangli

Karnataka on Friday urged the Supreme Court to restrain Maharashtra from opening Marathi medium schools in bordering villages of Sangli district’s Jath Taluk that is dominated by Kannada speaking people.

A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice R M Lodha asked Maharashtra to respond to Karnataka’s application within six weeks.

The dispute with regard to the claim of bordering areas between Karnataka and Maharashtra is pending before the apex court since 2004.

The original suit was filed by Maharashtra. Karnataka contended that according to Mahajan Commission, 44 villages in Jath Taluk were to be transferred to the then state of Mysore (renamed Karnataka).Despite overwhelming presence of Kannada speaking people, Maharashtra proposed to open 26 more Marathi high schools in the private sector , though there were 88 such schools run by Zilla Panchayat, it said.

“Kannada medium schools are being sidelined and Marathi medium schools are being encouraged by the state of Maharashtra,” Karnataka said, contending that it was “wholly illegal” and caused hardship to the people.