Sanskrit to be third language in classes 6-8 in KV: Centre to SC

The Centre on Thursday submitted before the Supreme Court that Sanskrit will be the third language in classes six to eight in Kendriya Vidyalayas.

Appearing before the bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi sought its permission to file an affidavit on the controversy arising out of the Centre's decision to drop German as an alternative to Sanskrit as the third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas.

The bench allowed him to file an affidavit and posted the matter for Friday.

Earlier, on November 21, the apex court had agreed to give an urgent hearing on the petitions filed by a group of parents of Kendriya Vidyalaya students on the issue.

The bench had posted the matter for Thursday and had asked the Centre to file its response on the PIL.

The counsel for the petitioners had contended that the decision regarding selecting language should be left to the students and the parents, and that the government should not impose its decision on them, especially in the middle of the ongoing academic session.

The Board of Governors of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, headed by Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, had in its meeting on October 27 decided that "teaching of German language as an option to Sanskrit will be discontinued herewith". German has been kept as an additional subject for students.

The decision is expected to affect over 70,000 students across 500 KVSs from classes six to eight who will be asked to switch from German to Sanskrit.

Challenging the decision, the petitioners had said, "The KVSs has failed to take into account the pertinent fact that such a decision cannot be taken mid-session as it would amount to throwing into complete disarray the overall academic preparation of the affected students."

They said, "The government should not take such an arbitrary and hasty decision at this belated stage and without any consultation with the affected students and parents.”

"The decision of the replacement of German language with Sanskrit in all KVSs across the country has been taken by the respondents in a hurried manner without application of mind and without considering the catastrophic consequences on the interest and welfare of students studying in such KVSs," the petition had contended.