Smell the coffee, SC tells Centre

The Supreme Court (SC) sought to wake up the Manmohan Singh government sitting on the right-to-education law on Thursday, saying if it did not change its attitude towards literacy for all, neighbour China will soon become the largest English-speaking country.

Parliament passed the bill in August last year, but the government
is still mulling whether to notify the laudable enactment.

“If you continue with your attitude, China will become the world's largest English-speaking nation in 10 years. Today, if you go to China, [you will see] all children there speak in English. In another 10 years, they will overtake you,” the court said, seeking a response from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Delhi Subordinate Service Selection Board (DSSSB).

The autonomous bodies are locked in a lawsuit blaming each other for the 6,000 vacant posts of teachers in government schools. SC also asked the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to file an affidavit giving details of infrastructure facilities in its 1,721 schools.

This is, however, not the first time that the court expressed its anguish at the executive’s inertia in enforcing fundamental rights.

Earlier this month, a bench headed by chief justice of India KG Balakrishnan observed: “If the right to education Act is implemented, child labour can be wiped out... There will be no child at work but in school...where he ought to be.”