Bangalore: Govt fine scheme on language schools stayed

[Harold Schiffman]

                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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