Larger bench to decide issue of primary education in mother tongue: Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday referred to a Constitution Bench the issue of whether the government can force schools to impart primary education in recognised unaided schools in the mother tongue.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice P Sathasivam said that it is a fit case to be referred to a larger bench.

The bench passed the order on a slew of petitions challenging the Karnataka government's policy directing children studying in government-recognised but unaided schools will be imparted primary education only in the mother tongue or Kannada language.

The petitioners contended that the state government order was violative of the Constitution and that the students have the right to choose the language and medium of instruction.