Mother tongue in primary education: SC's const bench to decide

The Supreme Court today said its constitution bench will examine whether government can impose mother tongue or regional language as the medium of instruction at the primary education stage as it has a far- reaching significance on the development of children.
The apex court, which was of the opinion that it was "a fit case for consideration by a larger bench," said, "the issue involved in this case concerns about the fundamental rights of not only the present generation but also the generations yet to be born."
A bench comprising justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi said the issue has to be referred to a larger bench as a two-judge bench of the apex court in 1993 had refused to interfere with a Karnataka government order specifying the mother tongue Kannada as the medium of instruction at the primary school level and making it mandatory for every child.

"Observing the fact that a two-judge bench of this court has already arrived at a decision as to the question whether the medium of instruction should be that of mother tongue in English Medium Students Parents Association (supra), we are of the view that it is not appropriate to decide the very same issue under different grounds by a bench of same number of judges.
"If we decide to accept the argument of the respondent that a student or a parent or a citizen has a right to choose a medium of instruction at primary stage, we in substance will be contradicting the judgement in English Medium Students Parents Association, which upholds the mother tongue as the medium of language," the bench said.

It said the vital question involved in the matter has a far-reaching significance on the development of the children in the country who are the future adults.