Process applications of English medium schools: HC

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday directed the State government to process the applications of the members of the Association of Managements of English Schools seeking permission for imparting education in English.

Hearing a petition filed by the association, Justice A S Bopanna directed the government to receive the applications from the members of the association for standards 1 to 5 for English medium schools, with a similar fee fixed for Kannada medium school.

The petitioners contended that the Supreme Court had allowed their plea seeking a change in the medium of instruction for standards 1 to 5, but the respondents, through their notification dated November 11, 2014, stating that no permission will be granted for English medium schools, is all set to frustrate the order of the apex court.

Stating that the association being an umbrella of unaided educational institutions, counsel for the petitioners G R Mohan submitted that the respondents cannot curtail the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India.

The counsel further submitted that the members had applied for permission much before the present notification and pointed out that since these schools existed for several years and their applications were filed before October 31, the present notification cannot be applicable to the existing schools seeking change in the medium of instruction.

The court has also directed the State government to extend the date of registration till December 5 from the existing November 30.