SC Flags CBSE Third Language Rule: Urges Centre to Rethink Implementation
These observations were voiced during a session addressing the Tamil Nadu government's plea against a Madras High Court directive.
The Supreme Court of India has expressed significant concern regarding the Central Board of Secondary Education policy that mandates a third language for Class 9 students. During a hearing, a bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan observed that introducing a new language at such a critical academic stage creates unnecessary stress for students who are already preparing for board examinations.
The court suggested that if the government intends to introduce an additional language, it should be done much earlier, preferably in Class 5 or Class 6. Justice Nagarathna highlighted that academic pressure begins mounting as early as Class 8, making Class 9 a particularly demanding year that should not be further burdened by new pedagogical requirements.
These observations were voiced during a session addressing the Tamil Nadu government’s plea against a Madras High Court directive. That directive had ordered the facilitation of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in every district of the state. Tamil Nadu has long opposed these schools due to concerns over the three language policy they typically follow.
Although this specific bench was not directly presiding over the primary legal challenge to the CBSE policy, its remarks provide a strong cautionary signal to the Union government. Meanwhile, a separate Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant continues to examine formal petitions challenging the implementation of this new language framework.
The court has requested the Centre to convey these observations back to the government. While the bench declined to stay the implementation of the policy during previous hearings, the judiciary is actively monitoring the potential impact on student well-being and academic quality.