Consider treating Sanskrit as addl subject: SC to Govt

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the government not to treat Sanskrit as a third language for the students of Kendriya Vidyalayas from class 6 to 8 and instead treat it as an additional language retaining German as a third langauge.
“You test them in Sanskrit for the additional language and German remains a third language” as replacing German with Sanskrit during the academic session creates difficulties for the students, said a bench of Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice Kurian Joseph.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said he would revert to the court after taking instruction from the government. Allowing time, the court directed the next hearing of the matter on Dec 5.
The court said this in the course of hearing a petition by 22 aggrieved parents who had challenged the government decision to substitute German with Sanskrit as a third language in the middle of the academic session.
Suggesting accommodating the students for the current academic year, the court said: “As Indians we are for Sanskrit. But think of the parents and children (effected by the change of policy in the mid-session).”  (IANS)