To this, the bench comprising acting Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice P D Audikesavalu said, “Learning is different from teaching.”

The court then admitted the plea moved by Arjunan Elayaraja of Cuddalore and directed the state to respond within four weeks.

According to the petitioner, learning only a person’s mother tongue would not be helpful. The language has to go hand in hand with other Indian languages, particularly, with Hindi and Sanskrit.

(With inputs from agencies)