Why Sanskrit in mid-session for students, SC asks Centre

Accepting that Sanskrit is the “mother of all languages”, the Supreme Court, however, asked the Centre to reconsider its decision to introduce the subject for Class VI to VIII students during the current mid-session as the same could be implemented from next year.

A bench of Justices Anil R Dave and Kurian Joseph told Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to take an objective view of the plight of the students along with the parents who are worried about the performance of their wards.

“Is it possible to implement the decision from the next academic session? Why don’t you allow the present system to continue this year,” the bench asked the top law officer after he justified the decision to replace German with Sanskrit for students.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by a group of parents challenging the government’s decision to replace German with Sanskrit in the Kendriya Vidyalaya schools.

Rohatgi said that the German was introduced under the three language formula in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding signed with German authorities in 2011 for a period of three years.

According to the national education policy, a modern Indian language was to be offered to the students of Class VI to VIII, along with Hindi and English under the three language formula, he said. “The said MoU was illegal and its term has also come to an end,” he submitted.

Voicing concerns of the students, the bench said, “Why are you punishing students for your mistake?”

Rohatgi, however, responded that the concerns of the students in class VI to VIII would be taken care of as they would put to only internal examinations. Their syllabus on Sanskrit would be adjusted accordingly in tune with the remaining period of the academic session, he said.