Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi (SP)

New Delhi, Jan 5: The Supreme Court on Monday January 4, rejected a petition moved by a Kannadiga, Deepak Timmaiah, to issue stay order against the interim order issued by Madras High Court relating to giving classical status to Kannada and Telugu languages by the union government. The bench, comprising Chief Justice, K G Balakrishnan, and Justice B S Chavan, also refused to entertain a special leave petition moved by Andhra Pradesh Official Language Commission against the impugned order.

The bench said that it will neither interfere in the court proceedings on the issue, nor is is it inclined to ask the High Court to hasten the trial.

The special leave petition had claimed that the suit relating to the central government and states, does not fall under the purview of the high courts. Counsel K V Dhananjay, appearing on behalf of the petitioners, argued that because of the order issued by Madras High Court that is in force since about a year, the central government has not been releasing funds that are rightfully due for the development of Kannada and Telugu languages. He also pointed out that repeated pleas to Madras High Court to hear the arguments have not been entertained.

It may be recalled, that all the members of the expert committee except two from Tamil Nadu, had approved the demand for classical status, put forth by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh government, for Kannada and Telugu languages. After the central government decided to give classical status to these two languages, an advocate from Tamil Nadu have filed public interest petition in the Madras High Court against this decision, after which the High Court there issued an interim order.

The central government has made it clear that the favourable stand it had taken in respect of these two languages would be subject to the final outcome of the suit pending in Madras High Court.