National Education Policy (NEP) Controversy
The NEP's language formula is facing criticism, particularly from Tamil Nadu, where there are concerns about Hindi imposition.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin argues the NEP is harming Tamil Nadu's educational progress.
Supreme Court's "Linguistic Secularism"
In a 2014 judgment (U.P. Hindi Sahittya Sammelan vs State of U.P.), the Supreme Court emphasized "linguistic secularism," meaning the acceptance of diverse language aspirations.
The court highlighted the organic and accommodative nature of Indian language laws.
Hindi as Official Language
Article 343 of the Constitution declares Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Union, not the national language.
The court acknowledged that Hindi is not spoken by a majority of Indians and that regional languages have significant importance.
Article 351
Article 351 directs the Union government to promote the spread of Hindi.
However, the Allahabad High Court ruled that this does not give citizens the right to force institutions to use Hindi as the medium of instruction.
Article 29(1)
Article 29(1) protects the right of every section of society to conserve its distinct language, script, or culture.
This right applies to both majority and minority groups.
Freedom of Choice in Education
The Supreme Court has recognized the fundamental right of students to choose their language of instruction, especially at the primary level.
The court has stated that the state can not impose language choices on students.
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