MOI CIRCULAR WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FROM THIS YEAR

PANJIM: The advocate general (AG), Subodh Kantak, on Monday informed the high court of Bombay at Goa that the state government would implement the medium of instruction (MoI) circular from this academic year.

On July 12, the high court had directed the state government to take a decision within a week's time on whether the recent cabinet decision on the MoI would be implemented in a phased manner from this academic year onwards or from the next year. On May 25, the cabinet had taken a decision to release grants also to English medium primary schools, along with the Konkani and Marathi medium schools.

When the matter came up for hearing before a division bench comprising Justice S A Bobde and Justice F M Reis, the AG said that the government wants to implement the cabinet decision in a phased manner from this academic year onwards. He sought a day's time to file an affidavit bringing on record the government's decision. The AG also assured the court that the government would not implement the MoI circular until the next date of hearing.

Subsequently, the court directed the government to file the affidavit on July 19.

The petition was filed by educationist Pandurang Nadkarni and others challenging the cabinet decision for providing grants to English medium primary schools in the state. The petitioners have also questioned a circular issued by the department of education (DoE) for implementing the cabinet decision. According to the petitioners, the DoE has issued the circular in violation of the Rules of Business made in accordance with Article 166 of the Constitution of India.

The government had earlier pointed out to the court that the cabinet took the decision after receiving several representations from parents belonging to the economically backward classes, who could not afford to send their children to English medium primary schools.