Incorporate Rajasthani in edu policy: SC

Jaipur: The Supreme Court Tuesday directed the Rajasthan govt to formulate a policy for the incorporation of the Rajasthani language across the state’s educational framework, from primary and secondary to higher education institutions.

The order was passed by a bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta while hearing a petition filed by one Padam Mehta & others.

The apex court observed that the “Rajasthani language carries immense historical, literary and cultural significance” and has “already found recognition in several universities and higher educational institutions”.

The bench directed the state to take concrete policy measures for the introduction and inculcation of the language in consonance with the constitutional framework. The court ordered that compliance of its directions be reported to it on or before Sept 30.

The proceedings arose from a Special Leave Petition filed by Padam Mehta and others seeking inclusion of the Rajasthani language in the educational framework and in the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET).

The petitioners quoted Article 350-A of the Constitution, Section 29(2)(f) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, which they said advocate education in the mother tongue as far as practicable.

Appearing for petitioner Mehta, senior advocate Manish Singhvi argued that Rajasthani was spoken by crores of people and possessed a rich literary and cultural heritage. Yet, it has not been included, either in REET or as a medium of instruction, despite recognition of other regional languages.

The petitioners pointed out that the Assembly had passed a resolution on Aug 25, 2003, recommending the inclusion of Rajasthani in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Representing the state, additional advocate general Shiv Mangal Sharma submitted that the issue involved a policy decision and that the govt would take an appropriate decision at the right time. “The govt has never opposed the inclusion of the Rajasthani language in the educational system,” Sharma said.

Sharma also argued that Rajasthani was presently not part of the sanctioned curriculum framework for primary and upper primary schools, and therefore had not been incorporated in REET.

He also informed the court that under the NEP, 2020, task forces had already been constituted for the implementation of provisions relating to mother tongue education and multilingual learning.