Thread by @barandbench

Supreme Court is hearing a matter concerning Andhra Pradesh government order on compulsory English as medium of instruction in government schools.

#SupremeCourt

SC at the outset says that the Court may not hear the case today since this is the matter which has come before the CJI-led Bench from another Bench.

#SupremeCourt #AndhraPradesh

Senior Counsel KV Vishwanathan for the State of AP: The govt took a step which is progressive.

CJI Bobde: There are divergent points of view in the issue. All of us here on the Bench have studied in English throughout our life. But we don't want to impose our view on others.

CJI Bobde: We want to consider all points of view.

KVV: The choice to study in Telugu medium is not taken away. If someone wants their children to study in Telugu medium, they will be accommodated in Mandal schools.

KVV: There are statistics that show 96% of the parents want English medium. And th choice for Telugu is not taken away.

This will help the marginalized sections also.

(KVV attempts to highlight benefits of English medium)

KVV: If you study in vernacular you cannot practise before the Supreme Court.

SG Tushar Mehta: You are pitching it too high to say this. This is inappropriate.

KVV explains the intent: I have friends who studied in vernacular, think in vernacular, translate it in English and bythe time they utter it, the misc cases are over.

(Senior Counsel Gopal Sankarnarayanan argues that the point made by KVV is inappropriate.?

CJI remarks that the example may not be appropriate.

The Court defers the hearing for one week.