Can Centre make Tamil must till Class 10 in JNVs asks Madras HC

In a PIL, the petitioner, Jeyakumar Thomas from Nagercoil, said the JNV schools, coming under MHRD, are fully residential as well as co-education schools. Having facility to teach from Classes 6 to 12, they are specially tasked to find talented children in rural areas and provide them with quality education without regard to their socio-economic conditions.

To establish such a school the state concerned should provide land for free and also provide rent-free buildings. Hence, the petitioner prayed the court to direct the governments to establish JNV schools in each district.

When the petition was heard on Thursday, the state replied that Tamil is present in JNVs only till Class 8 and not in Class 9 and 10. Hence, the government opposes the JNVs as it is ideologically against the stand of state.

The PP also said that they had no objection if Tamil is made a compulsory language till Class 10. Judges took note of the point and questioned the Union government whether they agree to making Tamil compulsory till Class 10 in the proposed JNVs. Union HRD Ministry secretary and JNV schools secretary were directed to file the counter affidavit. The case was adjourned to August 29.