[EDLING:107] Bangalore: Govt fine scheme on language schools stayed

[Francis M Hult]

Via lgpolicy...

> 
>                Govt fine scheme on language schools stayed  DH News
> Service, Bangalore:     In a major reprieve to institutions which had
> allegedly violated an undertaking with regard to the language policy, the
> Karnataka High Court has stayed the State governments voluntary scheme for
> these schools which provided for payment of a penal fine.
> 
> In a major reprieve to institutions which had allegedly violated an
> undertaking with regard to the language policy, the Karnataka High Court has
> stayed the State government's voluntary scheme for these schools which
> provided for payment of a penal fine. Justice C R Kumaraswamy, who heard a
> petition in th-is regard, stayed the sc-heme for three weeks.
> The Karnataka State Unaided Managements' Association challenged the scheme
> before the court and termed it "arbitrary". They further said the government
> has exceeded jurisdiction by implementing this scheme and also added that
> another clause providing for imprisonment was not in accordance with the
> law.
> 
> *Challenged*
> The government had de-recognised 2,215 sc-hools in the State as they were
> imparting education in English despite taking permission to run a Kannada
> medium school. This matter was challenged before the court, following which
> the government undertook it would not disturb schools until the completion
> of the current academic year.
> Subsequently, the government gave the schools an opportunity to apply for
> fresh recognition by May 15 with the education department under the
> "voluntary scheme" by paying a penal fee ranging between Rs 1 lakh (in
> cities) Rs 50,000 (in towns) and Rs 25,000 (in villages). The scheme
> provided for an imprisonment clause of three months if the fine was not
> paid.
> Of the 2,215 derecognised schools, 1,440 are in Bangalore alone (912 in
> Bangalore South and 338 in Bangalore North). These schools, established
> after 1994, had given an undertaking to the government they would conduct
> classes in Kannada but were found to be imparting education in English
> medium. They were de-recognised in September 2006. However, the Cabinet
> decided to give them a four-year grace period to phase out their English
> medium classes.
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