The Crossbill News Desk
The Kerala High Court has stayed the implementation of a government order mandating Hindi as the third language in schools in Lakshadweep, observing that any change in the language curriculum must be approached with cultural sensitivity and due deliberation.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji made the observations on Monday, June 9, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Ajas Akbar, president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI).
“..a language holds deep cultural signigicance, and any changes could have serious ramifications,” the court observed, as reported by Live Law.
The petition challenged the Lakshadweep administration’s decision to drop Arabic and Mahal as third language options in schools, following a directive issued under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Akbar argued that the removal of Mahal—a language spoken almost exclusively by the residents of Minicoy Island—and Arabic from the curriculum infringes on the constitutional and cultural rights of the region’s minority community.
The court questioned whether the administration had conducted any study on the necessity or impact of such a policy change. In response, the administration’s counsel admitted that no such study had been undertaken.
Justifying the order, the counsel cited the NEP 2020, the National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage, 2022, and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education, 2023.
However, the court clarified that the NEP only recommends that among the three languages taught in schools, two should be native to India.
It further pointed out that Arabic is a prescribed subject under both the Kerala Education Rules, 1959, and the Kerala Curriculum Framework.
Noting the deep cultural significance of language, the bench stressed that sudden policy changes could have serious ramifications, particularly in a region with a distinct linguistic identity like Lakshadweep.
The matter will now proceed with the implementation of the government order on hold, pending further hearings.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji made the observations on Monday, June 9, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Ajas Akbar, president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI).
“..a language holds deep cultural signigicance, and any changes could have serious ramifications,” the court observed, as reported by Live Law.
The petition challenged the Lakshadweep administration’s decision to drop Arabic and Mahal as third language options in schools, following a directive issued under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Akbar argued that the removal of Mahal—a language spoken almost exclusively by the residents of Minicoy Island—and Arabic from the curriculum infringes on the constitutional and cultural rights of the region’s minority community.
The court questioned whether the administration had conducted any study on the necessity or impact of such a policy change. In response, the administration’s counsel admitted that no such study had been undertaken.
Justifying the order, the counsel cited the NEP 2020, the National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage, 2022, and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education, 2023.
However, the court clarified that the NEP only recommends that among the three languages taught in schools, two should be native to India.
It further pointed out that Arabic is a prescribed subject under both the Kerala Education Rules, 1959, and the Kerala Curriculum Framework.
Noting the deep cultural significance of language, the bench stressed that sudden policy changes could have serious ramifications, particularly in a region with a distinct linguistic identity like Lakshadweep.
The matter will now proceed with the implementation of the government order on hold, pending further hearings.
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