HC challenges the need that Kannada be taught in Karnataka’s CBSE and CICSE schools

On a petition challenging the need that Kannada be taught as a language in CBSE and CICSE schools, the High Court of Karnataka ordered the issue of notice to the state government.

Twenty parents of students in such schools have petitioned the HC to overturn the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Issue of No-Objection Certificate and Control Rules) 2022, the Kannada Language Learning Rules 2017, and the Kannada Language Learning Act 2015, all of which require students to learn Kannada as a first, second, or third language.

The aforementioned laws have a significant and negative impact on schoolchildren’s ability to learn their preferred first, second, and third languages in the state of Karnataka. This has serious effects on the kids’ academic performance and might harm both their future academic and job prospects, according to the petition.

Somashekar C, Srinivas Gaonkar, Geraldine Perpetua Andrews, Aneesha Hussain, and 16 other Bengaluru-based parents submitted the case.

Respondents in the petition include the State of Karnataka, the Union of India, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CICSE). A division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice M G S Kamal heard the petition and ordered the notices to be sent out.