PIL for introducing Dogri as subject in schools;DB imposes Rs 5,000 as cost on Comm Secy Education for not filing objections

 STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a Public Interest Litigation filed by Vikram Malhotra social activist and a politician seeking direction to State for implementing Government Order No 222 EDU of 2006 with regard to introduction of Dogri as a subject in all private as well as government schools from the current academic session which is about to begin from April 2015 (For which curriculum has been already in place by the Chairman BOSE) and seeking direction to Union Home Ministry to order the Department of census to rectify its linguistic survey of 2001 with regard to mother tongues being spoken in J and K as available on its website, and place Kishtwari, Siraji under the parent family of Dogri and also Bhadarwahi from the parent family of Hindi to its original parent family which is Dogri, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan observed that despite granting time to file objections within four weeks as a last chance by order dated 7th October, 2016, the objections were not filed till date.
The DB however, considering the request of AAG granted one week’s time for filing objections on the condition to deposit a sum of Rs 5,000 in Advocates Welfare Fund by Commissioner/Secretary Education.
Earlier, Advocate Abhinav Sharma appearing for the PIL has stated that paramount consideration is being given by the petitioner for preserving and protecting the cultural and linguistic interests of such minorities, who are withering into segments of history by each passing day. Some initiatives have already been taken by the petitioner in safeguarding linguistic interests and the rights of the minorities, the prominent and latest among them is “Dogri Bachao Abhiyan” launched in the old city area of Jammu.