New Delhi:
The Centre on Friday stood by its decision on replacing German as third language with Sanskrit in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) but conceded before the Supreme Court that no exam would be conducted for the subject in the current session.
Appearing before a bench headed by Justice A R Dave, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted that the Centre has decided that no examination would be conducted for Sanskrit paper and KV students can also continue with German language as an additional subject in the current session.
The Centre's decision not to conduct exam for Sanskrit, introduced in the middle of the ongoing session, came after the apex court in the last hearing expressed concern that students would be burdened and suffer because of the government's decision.
On being asked to "find a way out", Mukul Rohatgi said that a decision at the "highest level" has been taken and according to it, the students will not be required to sit for Sanskrit exams and placed before the bench a letter written by a Joint Secretary of HRD Ministry.
"In view of the concern of the court, and to ensure that no stress is caused to the students, there will be no
examination in this academic session for those students studying Sanskrit, or any other modern Indian language as the third language now, in place of German as the third language, for the remaining part of the current academic year," the letter said.
Meanwhile, the students, who had been studying German as the third language, can continue to study the foreign language as an additional subject in the present session, Mukul Rohatgi said.
The bench also accepted the proposal saying that it would not create any additional burden on the students as no exam would be conducted.
"It is a good solution," Justice Dave said, adding, "Even as a father I would agree with it."
The bench, however, did not pass any formal order as advocate Reena Singh, appearing for a group of parents of Kendriya Vidyalaya students, pleaded that she should be given some time to counter the suggestion given by the Centre and consult her clients.
The bench, thereafter, posted the case for December 8 and reiterated that introduction of Sanskrit is good for students.