Madras High Court Directs NCERT And SCERT To Consider Whether Aryan-Dravidian Two Race Theory Should Continue To Be Taught To Children
|The Madras High Court has directed the NCERT and the State Council of Educational Research and Training to consider the grievance of the Petitioner before the Court about the inclusion of the Aryan-Dravidian two-race theory in the syllabus of educational institutions. The Court directed that the Writ Petition filed by one Mahalingam Balaji be treated as a representation for the purpose and that a decision be taken within 12 weeks.
The Court was hearing a Writ Petition seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents to stop propagating the Aryan/Dravidian race theory, particularly among the student community, and tender an apology to the general public.
The bench of Chief Justice KR Shriram and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy observed, “The court is not an expert in history or the origin of races.”
The Petitioner appeared in person while Deputy Solicitor General Rajesh Vivekananthan and Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran appeared for the Respondents.
It was the grievance of the Petitioner that educational authorities are propagating the false theory that there are two races, i.e., Aryan and Dravidian and that this is promoting divisiveness among the people. The party-in-person relied upon the writings of various scholars to contend that the two-race theory is false and would cause substantial harm to impressionable minds.
The Court said that the relief requested cannot be granted by the Court without examining and deciding whether the two-race theory, which the Petitioner claims to be false, is valid or invalid.
“It is appropriate that this determination be made by experts in the field, and not by the court.”, the Court emphasised.
The Court directed Respondents to treat the Writ Petition as a representation sent to them. Accordingly, the Court disposed of the Writ Petition.
Cause Title: Mahalingam Balaji v. Secretary, Ministry of Education
Appearance:
Appellant: Mahalingam Balaji, Petitioner in person
Respondent: DSG Rajesh Vivekananthan, AAG J.Ravindran, AGP Maithily, SGP A.Edwin Prabakar and GA T.K.Saravanan