Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 10: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a social activist and politician Vikram Malhotra seeking introduction of Dogri language as subject in all the Government schools, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan has granted last and final opportunity to State for filing objections within four weeks.
The petitioner is seeking direction to the State for implementing the Government Order No 222 Edu of 2006 in letter and spirit to ensure the protection of linguistic interests of minorities throughout J&K at an earliest and introduction of Dogri subject in all private as well as Government schools.
The petitioner has also prayed before the Division Bench of State High Court for issuance of directions to the Union Home Ministry to rectify its Linguistic Survey of 2001 with regard to mother tongues being spoken in J&K as available on its website and place Kishtwari and Siraji under the parent family of Dogri and also Bhaderwahi from the parent family of Hindi to its original parent family which is Dogri.
“The Constitution of India classifies the minorities in two categories namely Linguistic Minorities and Religion Based Minorities. The main edifice of minorities in the State of J&K is based on Linguistic Minorities because the J&K has diverse topography comprising of plains to treacherous mountains and valleys, subdivided by various rivers, thus imposing a constraint for one culture and one language”, the petitioner said.
According to the PIL, no subtle initiative has been taken by the State Government to protect the rights of Linguistic Minorities inspite of the endeavor taken by the framers of Indian Constitution in form of Article 29, which clearly envisages the protection of cultural rights as well as the educational rights of minorities existing throughout the territorial bounds of India.
“There is no proper compliance to the Government Order No.222-EDU of 2006”, the petitioner said, adding “this order has not seen the light of the day except in Kashmir province, where the Kashmiri is being taught in every school on compulsory basis”.
“There is a dire need for protection of the mother tongue being spoken by the Linguistic Minorities belonging to the State of J&K otherwise the sole identity of these minorities will soon become a mere fiction”, the petitioner said.
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