Holiday: Karnataka high court notice to Sanskrit varsity

The high court on Wednesday issued an emergent notice to Karnataka Sanskrit University in a petition filed by Vedic studies students challenging a varsity notification to follow uniform college timings and holidays.

Maharaja Sanskrit College students and staff have challenged the University notification directing the colleges offering Vedic studies to follow uniform timings from 10 am to 5pm.

It required the colleges to scrap the “anadhyayana” (holidays) period and grant holidays as declared by the government.

The petitioners contended that the order was opposed to the Vedic practices. Vedic studies required the adoption of strict procedures and it was not similar to other forms of education.

The studies also had to be resorted to during prescribed hours as opposed other courses.

When the British declared Sunday as the holiday, it was to suit their convenience as they wanted to attend the church. This did not mean that everybody in India including persons pursuing Vedic studies should do the same, the petitioners argued and requested the court to quash the university notification.