SC to examine AP High Court order quashing govt decision making English medium of instruction in schools

The Supreme Court Thursday agreed to examine the Andhra Pradesh High Court's order quashing a decision of the State Government to convert the medium of instruction in Government Schools to English for classes I to VI.

A division bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and K M Joseph after hearing senior advocate KV Vishwanathan for the State Government issued notice in the matter.

The bench, however, refused to stay the order of the High Court for the time being.

It was contended by the State Government that the decision was a progressive and a forward-looking one taken for the benefit of the students.

Vishwanathan, for the State Government, argued that according to a survey, a majority of the parents were in favour of government schools imparting education in the English language.

The Court, however, pointed out that under Section 29(2)(f) of the Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009, the medium of instruction was to be in the mother tongue of a child 'as far as practicable'.

In response, Vishwanathan submitted that there was no repugnancy and that Telugu as a subject was not being done away with.

On the other side, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan who appeared for a Caveator told the Court that the choice of parents to send their children to Telugu medium schools was taken away.

Eventually, the apex courts proceeded to issue notice in the matter and fixed September 25 as the next date of hearing.