Kerala High Court Halts Removal of Mahal and Arabic from Lakshadweep Schools
Court Intervenes in Language Curriculum Controversy
In a significant ruling, the Kerala High Court has put a hold on the Lakshadweep administration's recent move to eliminate Mahal and Arabic from the educational curriculum in the Union Territory.
The decision was made by a division bench led by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji, who found merit in the petitioner's arguments.
The Court emphasized that implementing the National Education Policy in a specific region requires careful consideration of local conditions to serve the educational needs of the community effectively. It noted that language carries profound cultural importance, and any alterations could have serious consequences.
While the Court typically refrains from intervening in educational policy matters, it acknowledged that such decisions should be made by experts following thorough research and extensive consultation.
On May 14, the Education Department of Lakshadweep announced the removal of these languages in accordance with the 2023 National Curriculum Framework, part of the 2020 National Education Policy.
Under the new directive, schools on Minicoy Island will teach Malayalam and English as the primary and secondary languages, with Hindi replacing Mahal and Arabic as the third language.
This decision sparked significant protests across the islands.
A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by Ajas Akber, a social worker and President of the Lakshadweep Unit of the National Students Union of India, challenging the order.
Akber highlighted that Mahal is the sole language of the Minicoy islanders, representing their cultural heritage.
He argued that Mahal is only taught in primary education and serves as a foundational course to preserve the unique traditions of Minicoy, a linguistic minority within the Union Territory.
The removal of Mahal from the curriculum, according to Akber, undermines the constitutional rights of this minority community.
After considering the arguments from both sides, the Court has temporarily stayed the administration's order while allowing the Lakshadweep authorities to conduct necessary studies on the matter.
The Court stated that the Union Territory is permitted to assess local conditions in light of existing educational policies and to engage stakeholders in a meaningful consultation process. If such evaluations are conducted, the administration may seek appropriate orders, which will be evaluated on their own merits.