Supreme Court Orders Rajasthan to Teach Rajasthani, Citing Child’s Right under Article 19(1)(a)

<h3>Overview</h3> <p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court of India — The apex judicial body, final interpreter of the Constitution, whose judgments set binding precedents for all courts and governments. (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> has directed the <span class="key-term" data-definition="State of Rajasthan — One of India’s 28 states, responsible for implementing education policies within its jurisdiction. (GS2: Polity)">State of Rajasthan</span> to introduce <span class="key-term" data-definition="Rajasthani language — A regional language spoken in Rajasthan, recognized under the Eighth Schedule, and a key element of cultural identity. (GS1: Culture, GS2: Polity)">Rajasthani</span> as a school subject and to allow its use as a medium of instruction. The judgment rests on the premise that <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 19(1)(a) — Guarantees freedom of speech and expression, interpreted by courts to include the right to receive information in a language one understands. (GS2: Polity)">Article 19(1)(a)</span> of the Constitution encompasses a child’s right to receive primary education in a language of choice.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>Bench of Justices <strong>Vikram Nath</strong> and <strong>Sandeep Mehta</strong> held that the right to mother‑tongue education is traceable to <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 19(1)(a) — Guarantees freedom of speech and expression, interpreted by courts to include the right to receive information in a language one understands. (GS2: Polity)">Article 19(1)(a)</span>.</li> <li>The Court reiterated that education must be imparted, "to the extent practicable," in a language the child best understands, emphasizing conceptual clarity and cognitive engagement.</li> <li>Reference was made to <span class="key-term" data-definition="State of Karnataka v. Associated Management of English Medium Primary & Secondary Schools — 2022 Supreme Court judgment that affirmed a child’s right to choose the medium of instruction at the primary level. (GS2: Polity)">State of Karnataka v. Associated Management of English Medium Primary &amp; Secondary Schools</span>, which earlier held that the State cannot force a child to study in a language against their choice.</li> <li>The judgment criticised the <strong>State of Rajasthan</strong> for lagging behind central policy directives on mother‑tongue instruction.</li> <li>It ordered the state to make <span class="key-term" data-definition="Rajasthani language — A regional language spoken in Rajasthan, recognized under the Eighth Schedule, and a key element of cultural identity. (GS1: Culture, GS2: Polity)">Rajasthani</span> a compulsory subject in all government and private schools.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>• Case title: <strong>PADAM MEHTA AND ANR. Versus THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN AND ORS., SLP(C) No. 1425/2025</strong>.<br> • The petition was presented by <strong>Dr Manish Singhvi</strong>, Senior Advocate.<br> • The Court linked the right to mother‑tongue instruction with the broader guarantee of freedom of speech under <span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 19(1)(a) — Guarantees freedom of speech and expression, interpreted by courts to include the right to receive information in a language one understands. (GS2: Polity)">Article 19(1)(a)</span>, a provision housed in <span class="key-term" data-definition="Part III of the Constitution — The chapter containing Fundamental Rights, enforceable by courts. (GS2: Polity)">Part III</span> of the Constitution.</p> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>The judgment illustrates the intersection of constitutional law, education policy, and cultural rights—core topics for <strong>GS 2 (Polity)</strong>. It underscores how the judiciary interprets fundamental rights to protect linguistic diversity, a recurring theme in questions on federalism, minority rights, and the implementation of the Right to Education. Aspirants should note the precedent set for <span class="key-term" data-definition="Mother‑tongue education — Instruction in the child’s first language, aimed at better comprehension and cognitive development, endorsed by UNESCO and Indian courts. (GS2: Polity, GS3: Education)">mother‑tongue education</span> and its linkage to freedom of speech, which may be asked in essay or case‑study formats.</p> <h3>Way Forward</h3> <ul> <li>State authorities must draft a curriculum framework for <span class="key-term" data-definition="Rajasthani language — A regional language spoken in Rajasthan, recognized under the Eighth Schedule, and a key element of cultural identity. (GS1: Culture, GS2: Polity)">Rajasthani</span> and train teachers accordingly.</li> <li>Implementation monitoring mechanisms should be set up to ensure compliance across both government and private schools.</li> <li>Further litigation may arise if the state fails to meet the timeline, providing a live example of judicial oversight of policy execution.</li> <li>Policy makers should align state‑level education plans with central guidelines on mother‑tongue instruction to avoid constitutional challenges.</li> </ul>