
Karnataka HC Seeks Govt's Reply On Kannada Mandate In CBSE, ICSE Schools
The Karnataka High Court has instructed the state government to explain within three months why Kannada should be a mandatory subject in CBSE and CISCE-affiliated schools. This directive was issued during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging this decision.
The division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice V. Kameswara Rao and Justice C.M. Joshi, expressed dissatisfaction with the government for not responding so far. The court remarked that the government has been inactive for two years. If this continues, the court may consider granting interim relief to the petitioners.
The petition disputes the mandate for compulsory teaching of Kannada as a first or second language in CBSE and CISCE schools, as stipulated by the Karnataka Language Teaching Act, 2015, and its related rules established in 2017. The petitioners argued that this decision infringes on the freedom of language choice, potentially impacting students' academic freedom and teachers' employment. According to the rules, schools failing to comply risk having their NOC (No Objection Certificate) revoked, jeopardizing their recognition.
The petitioners contend that students should have the right to choose their first, second, and third languages. They believe that enforcing Kannada could affect students' future prospects, especially those preparing for competitive exams or studying in other states. The petition also highlights concerns that teachers unable to teach Kannada may face employment challenges due to the new language policy.
Parents and teachers allege that the state government is indirectly pressuring CBSE and CISCE schools to adopt Kannada by using regulatory mechanisms like NOCs. They argue that this could set a dangerous precedent against academic freedom and parental choice.
The court has given the state government three months to respond. The next hearing will occur only after this period. For now, the court has adjourned the case.
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
18 minutes ago
- News18
Muslim bodies urge govt to ensure end of Israeli aggression in Gaza
New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) Prominent Muslim bodies and Islamic scholars on Friday appealed to the government to stand against injustice and take swift action to ensure that the 'continued Israeli aggression" in Gaza ends, asserting that India has historically aligned itself with the oppressed and it is time to reaffirm that legacy. In a joint statement, prominent Muslim organisations and Islamic scholars called on both the Indian government and global powers to intervene and stop the 'continuing atrocities" in Gaza. 'We, the undersigned leaders of Muslim organisations in India, Islamic scholars and peace-loving citizens strongly condemn the deepening genocide and humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. On behalf of over 200 million Indian Muslims and all peace-loving citizens of our beloved country, we express our unwavering support and solidarity with the people of Palestine," the statement said. 'We appeal to the government of India, international leaders, and people of conscience worldwide to stand against the injustice and take swift action to end the continued Israeli aggression," it said. 'The relentless assault on the Palestinian people has taken the form of a brutal genocide, characterised by systematic destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and refugee camps. Since October 2023, nearly 100,000 innocent Palestinians, including a significant number of women and children, have lost their lives," the statement claimed. The international community cannot afford to remain silent, it said. 'We call upon all states to sever military and economic ties with Israel and back the UN General Assembly's call to end the illegal occupation. We urge all Muslim-majority nations to put strong pressure on Israel and the US to halt this catastrophe," the statement said. 'India has historically aligned itself with the oppressed; this is the moment to reaffirm that legacy," it asserted. 'We call on the Government of India to honour its long-standing moral and diplomatic tradition by standing firmly with the Palestinian people in their struggle. India must denounce Israel's brutal actions, halt all military and strategic cooperation with it, and actively back global efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region," the statement said. The statement was signed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, All India Muslim Personal Law Board president Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind chief Syed Sadatullah Husaini, Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees Maulana Ali Asghar Imam Mehdi, Fatehpuri Mosque Imam Mufti Mukarram Ahmad, and former Rajya Sabha MP Maulana Obaidullah Khan Azmi, among others. PTI ASK ARI view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 00:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


News18
39 minutes ago
- News18
Trinamool MPs visit Jai Hind camp in Delhi, welcome court order staying eviction
Agency: PTI Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) A delegation of Trinamool Congress MPs on Friday visited the Jai Hind camp in Delhi's Vasant Kunj, and welcomed a court order staying eviction at the settlement. Welcoming the court order staying the eviction until August 8, Trinamool's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, Sagarika Ghose, alleged that the locals were being targeted for speaking Bangla. Besides Ghose, Trinamool MP from Cooch Behar Jagadish Basunia, and Rajya Sabha MPs Mausam Noor and Mamata Bala Thakur were part of the delegation. 'We had staged a dharna here… People here are being attacked and called Bangladeshis even though they have all the valid documents – ration card, Aadhaar card, etc. Yet they are being called Bangladeshis because they speak Bangla," Ghose said. 'Our main demand was that their eviction should be stayed… We have got some satisfaction as the eviction has been stayed by a court. 'But the issue of water supply and electricity connections still remains to be resolved. We will continue our movement till they get these amenities," she added. The informal settlement, which lies amid the posh sectors in Vasant Kunj and Masoodpur village, houses around 5,000 migrant workers, who say they hail from Cooch Behar in West Bengal. Power supply was snapped in the camp following a court order on July 8 in an encroachment case. Trinamool MPs had staged a sit-in protest at the settlement on July 14-15. PTI AO ARI view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 00:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Debt by cash transactions of over Rs 20,000 not legally enforceable: Kerala HC
Synopsis The Kerala High Court made a significant ruling. It involves cash transactions exceeding Rs 20,000. Such debts are not legally enforceable without proper justification. This decision came during a cheque dishonor case appeal. The court acquitted the accused, emphasizing the need to discourage large cash transactions. This aligns with India's digital economy goals. The Kerala High Court on Friday declared that a debt created by a cash transaction of above Rs 20,000 in violation of the Income Tax Act is not a "legally enforceable debt" unless there is a valid explanation for the same. ADVERTISEMENT Justice P V Kunhikrishnan made the declaration while allowing a plea for setting aside the conviction and sentence of a man accused in a cheque dishonor case. The accused was sentenced to one year and imposed with a fine of Rs 9 lakh by a sessions court for the offence of dishonour of cheque due to insufficiency of funds in the account under section 138 of Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act. In his appeal in the High Court against the sessions court decision, the accused claimed that as the amount of Rs 9 lakh given to him by the complainant was in cash, it was an illegal transaction according to the Income Tax laws. "Therefore, a debt created by an illegal transaction cannot be treated as a legally enforceable debt," the accused had claimed. Agreeing with the accused's contention, Justice Kunhikrishnan said that if a criminal court "indirectly legalises such illegal transactions in violation of the IT Act" by treating them as a legally enforceable debt, it will be against the aim of the country to discourage cash transactions above Rs 20,000. ADVERTISEMENT The High Court said that discouraging cash transactions above Rs 20,000 was also "a part of the 'digital India' dream of our country, which is propounded by our Prime Minister to save our economy and to curb a parallel economy in our country". "If the debt arises through an illegal transaction, that debt cannot be treated as a legally enforceable debt. If the court regularises such transactions, that will encourage illegal transactions by the citizens. Even black money will be converted into white money through the criminal courts," the High Court said. ADVERTISEMENT It further said that in such cases the accused should challenge such transactions in evidence and has to rebut the presumption under section 139 of the NI Act that "the holder of a cheque received it for the discharge of a debt or other liability". In the instant case, the accused had rebutted the presumption by claiming that the complainant does not have the source to loan out Rs 9 lakh and therefore, the debt alleged to be due to him cannot be treated as a legally enforceable one, the HC said. ADVERTISEMENT It allowed the accused's revision petition and acquitted him by setting aside his conviction and sentence by the lower court. The High Court said if anybody pays an amount in excess of Rs 20,000 to another person by cash in violation of the IT Act and thereafter receives a cheque for that debt, he should take responsibility to get back the amount, unless there is a valid explanation for such cash transactions. ADVERTISEMENT "If there is no valid explanation in tune with provisions of the IT Act, the doors of the criminal court will be closed for such illegal transactions," the HC said. It also made it clear that its findings would be prospective in nature. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online. NEXT STORY