Now Reading: Karnataka High Court seeks reply on exclusion of Urdu teachers from recruitment
-
01
Karnataka High Court seeks reply on exclusion of Urdu teachers from recruitment
Karnataka High Court seeks reply on exclusion of Urdu teachers from recruitment
The Karnataka High Court has sought an explanation from the state government on the alleged exclusion of Urdu-medium and other linguistic minority teaching posts from its recruitment drive for 15,000 school teachers.…
The Karnataka High Court has sought an explanation from the state government on the alleged exclusion of Urdu-medium and other linguistic minority teaching posts from its recruitment drive for 15,000 school teachers. Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde issued notice on a petition challenging the August 11 notification, which invites applications only for English and Kannada medium posts.
The petitioners argue the exclusion violates the Karnataka Education Department Services (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, and constitutional guarantees under Articles 19, 21, 29(1) and 350A. The court orally observed that while there may be vacancies in Kannada and English medium schools, the exclusion of Urdu schools raises a legitimate question. However, it refused to stay the recruitment process.
The court noted that if the petitioners ultimately succeed, it can direct the government to conduct recruitment for Urdu schools, but the current drive cannot be stalled on that ground alone. The government has been directed to respond to a representation submitted by the petitioners. The matter will be heard next on September 7.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The court's refusal to stay the recruitment process is significant because it allows the state to fill 15,000 posts while the legal challenge continues. The core question is whether the government must simultaneously recruit for all medium categories or can phase them. Article 350A of the Constitution mandates that every state shall provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage. The petitioners have raised this provision, but the court has not yet ruled on whether the government's phased approach violates it. The September 7 hearing will clarify whether the government will include Urdu and other minority medium posts in this cycle or defer them to a later notification.
The outcome will affect thousands of Urdu-medium teachers and students across Karnataka. If the court eventually directs the government to recruit for Urdu schools, it may set a precedent for other states with similar linguistic minority provisions.
Source: livelaw.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
