SAMIR CHAKMA Vs. STATE OF TRIPURA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner belongs to Chakma Tribal Community and is resident of State of Tripura. He has filed this petition in the nature of Public Interest Litigation. His main prayer is that the State authorities be directed to impart primary education to the children of Chakma Community in their mother tongue. This would of course require not only setting up of a schools for such purpose, but also preparing text books and trained teachers in Chakma language. The main plank of the petitioner's argument as canvassed before us by Mr. Roy Barman, learned Senior Counsel is that it is universally accepted that absorption of knowledge of a child of young age is always best in his mother tongue. Our attention was also drawn to Article 350A of the Constitution which provides that it shall be the endeavour of every State and local authority to provide adequate facilities for instruction in mother tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups. He submitted that in rural areas the percentage of result of the students even in primary level is extremely low which can to a large extent be attributed to imparting of the education in a language other than the mother tongue of the child.

(2.) On 09.12.2019 after hearing advocates for the parties, the Court had passed following order:

(3.) Pursuant to the said order the State Government has filed a further affidavit dated 08th February, 2021 in which it has been stated that a survey as directed was carried out and a report of the Expert Committee which was constituted for such purpose, was submitted on 06.01.2020 as corrected by a corrigendum issued on 14.01.2020. Upon perusal of the said survey report of the Expert Committee the Government has prima facie formed an opinion that publication of text books in all non-language subjects like Science, Mathematics, Social Studies etc. in Chakma language will not be possible to be carried out under the present conditions.