Kochi – The Kerala High Court has stayed the implementation of a controversial order by the Lakshadweep administration that sought to introduce Hindi as a compulsory third language in schools across the Union Territory.
The directive, which aimed to make Hindi mandatory from Class 6 onwards, drew sharp criticism from parents, educators, and cultural groups. Opponents argued that the policy undermines the linguistic rights of the islanders, whose native tongues include Malayalam and Jeseri.
Responding to the legal challenge, the High Court emphasized the need for language policies to respect local traditions and demographics. The court ordered a temporary halt to the implementation and has asked the administration to file a detailed explanation.
With the matter set for further hearing in the coming weeks, schools in Lakshadweep have been granted relief from enforcing the Hindi mandate for now.
