The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has expressed serious concern over the continuous closure of Marathi-medium schools across Maharashtra. On Tuesday, the court issued a significant directive to the state government and petitioners, instructing them to thoroughly examine the educational policies implemented by other Indian states to preserve and promote instruction in regional languages.
Court's Stern Observation on Language Preservation
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Akhil Bharatiya Durbal Samaj Vikas Sanstha, a division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode made pointed observations about the alarming trend. The bench noted that "Marathi schools are shutting down, and this is a serious issue", emphasizing that this problem extends far beyond Nagpur and affects the entire state of Maharashtra.
The court posed a fundamental question about linguistic heritage: "If Marathi schools disappear in Maharashtra itself, what will happen to the status of Marathi as a classical language?" The justices stressed that the survival of these educational institutions is "absolutely essential" for preserving cultural identity and linguistic heritage.
Details of the Public Interest Litigation
The PIL, filed through counsel Ashutosh Dharmadhikari, specifically seeks legal protection for Marathi-medium schools operated by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. The petition presents serious allegations against educational authorities:
- Primary schools across multiple municipal corporations are being systematically closed under various pretexts
- Both state government and civic authorities have demonstrated "indifference" toward the crisis
- No concrete measures have been implemented to safeguard these vital educational institutions
As a direct consequence of this institutional neglect, student enrollment in Marathi-medium schools has experienced a sharp decline over recent years. This downward trend has pushed numerous schools to the brink of permanent closure, threatening the very foundation of Marathi language education in its home state.
Court's Directive and Future Proceedings
The Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench has mandated a comprehensive approach to address this educational emergency:
- The Maharashtra government must collaborate with petitioners to study successful policies from other states
- A detailed examination of strategies that have effectively sustained local-language education elsewhere in India
- Development of a concrete, implementable blueprint specifically tailored for Maharashtra's context
- Submission of this comprehensive plan to the court for review and approval
The court has scheduled the next hearing in this crucial matter for February 2, when it will review the proposed blueprint and consider further directions to ensure the preservation of Marathi-medium education across Maharashtra.
