Karnataka government withdraws compulsory Kannada for UG students

All those students who have already taken up the Kannada subject have an option to change now and the attendance will be adjusted to the new language course.

Karnataka government has withdrawn the rule of making the Kannada language compulsory for undergraduate students. The decision has been taken in wake of the interim order passed by the High Court in this regard. The High Court had earlier stated that the state government shall not compel students to opt for the Kannada language. As per the directives released by the Karnataka government, students will be given a choice to choose any other language instead of Kannada. 

All those students who have already taken up the Kannada subject have an option to change now and the attendance will be adjusted to the new language course, as per reports. The state government’s circular was addressed to all vice-chancellors and registrars of public and private universities.

On August 7, last year, the state government had announced that it has decided to make Kannada compulsory for college students in the state.  After opposition from students and others, the state government in September said that it may relax its stand. A month later, the Karnataka High Court said that making Kannada compulsory for students in higher education is a sensitive issue and that it will create problems for students.

Though the government maintained that the order making Kannada language compulsory was in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a petition filed against the order stated that the orders released by the government are in contrary to the freedom of speech and expression that has been guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of India.

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