Bengaluru, April 10: The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) related to the state’s Hindi boycott controversy. The court also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on the petitioners.
This PIL was filed against a statement made by Karnataka’s Education Minister, Madhu Bangarappa, indicating that marks for third language subjects, including Hindi, would not be considered in the Class 10 board examinations.
The petitioners, H.N. Chandana and S. Venkatesh from Bengaluru, argued that the government’s sudden decision was creating uncertainty among millions of students in Karnataka. They claimed it violated the constitutional rights to equality and education.
Chandana’s lawyer argued in court that the minister’s statement suggested the removal of Hindi, which was misleading.
The bench, led by Chief Justice Vibhusit Bakru, criticized the petition, stating that it was based on contentious issues and media reports rather than a clear government order. The Chief Justice noted that the case was filed based on a few lines published in a newspaper, not an official announcement.
The court clarified that there was no order regarding the removal of Hindi. It labeled the PIL as ‘Publicity Interest Litigation’ rather than a genuine public interest case.
Initially, the court imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the petitioners, but after hearing arguments, the bench increased it to ₹1 lakh.
While Kannada advocacy groups welcomed the decision to award grades instead of marks for the third language in the SSLC examination, some political parties, including certain leaders from the BJP, expressed opposition.
Amid this controversy, Governor Thawarchand Gehlot intervened, writing to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, urging the government to reconsider its decision. Additionally, the Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council, Basavaraj Horatti, emphasized the importance of Hindi in a letter to the government.
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