New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine the validity of the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) revised three-language policy mandating Class 9 students to study three languages, including at least two native Indian languages, from the current academic session.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi issued notices to the Centre, the CBSE, and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), seeking detailed responses on the petition challenging the policy.
The apex court, however, declined to grant an interim stay on the implementation of the revised language framework. The bench said the matter would be taken up for final hearing in the second week of July after the court reopens following the summer vacation.
During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the CBSE circular effectively compels students to begin studying three languages from July 1 despite inadequate preparations.
“Even textbooks are not available,” Rohatgi submitted, highlighting logistical and practical difficulties in implementing the policy.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing in a connected matter, argued that the issue raised significant constitutional questions involving federalism and linguistic choice.
“Language is a matter of choice and cannot be imposed,” Sibal argued, adding that the policy carried wider federal implications.
The bench, however, clarified that it was currently focusing on implementation-related concerns, including the availability of teachers and study material, rather than examining the federalism aspect at this stage.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, opposed the plea for urgent interim relief and submitted that the matter could be heard in detail later, as implementation of the policy would remain subject to the Supreme Court’s final verdict.
The controversy stems from a CBSE circular issued on May 15 as part of the transition towards the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.
Under the revised framework, Class 9 students are required to study three languages — referred to as R1, R2, and R3 — with at least two being native Indian languages. Students may opt for a foreign language only as the third language, provided the other two are Indian languages, or choose it as an additional fourth language.
Addressing concerns over the lack of study material, the CBSE said that until dedicated textbooks are prepared, Class 6 textbooks for the third language would be used for Class 9 students.
The Board also clarified that there would be no Class 10 board examination for the third language, and assessment would remain internal.
Acknowledging possible shortages of qualified language teachers, CBSE allowed schools to adopt flexible measures during the transition period, including inter-school resource sharing, hybrid teaching methods, and the appointment of retired teachers.
Meanwhile, former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai urged the CBSE to withdraw the circular, arguing that its sudden implementation would place unnecessary academic pressure on students and parents.
In a post on X, Annamalai said that although he had initially welcomed the three-language framework announced in April 2026, the latest circular making it compulsory for Class 9 students from the current academic year had triggered anxiety, particularly among parents in Tamil Nadu, where language issues remain politically sensitive.
He claimed the earlier notification had indicated that the requirement for Class 9 students would only come into force from the 2029-30 academic session and argued that students who had already selected their languages in Class 6 should not now be forced to take up an additional language.
Warning that abrupt curriculum changes could impact academic performance, Annamalai called on the CBSE to reconsider the decision.
With IANS inputs