The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Centre, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on a petition challenging the compulsory three-language policy for Class 9 students. A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked them to file their replies within 10 days.
The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V.S. Mohan, sought detailed replies on the matter.
The Supreme Court had earlier refused to stay the policy with immediate effect. However, it observed that any order staying the implementation of the provision introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 could only be considered after a detailed hearing.
WHAT PETITIONERS CLARIFIED
The petitioners clarified that they are not opposed to the three-language policy itself but are challenging the manner in which it is being implemented. They argued that schools currently lack the necessary infrastructure to support the policy. According to them, expecting students to begin learning a local language at the age of 14 places an additional academic burden on them, particularly when the practical requirements for implementation have not been met.
The petition challenges the CBSE's three-language policy for Class 9, which mandates that students study three languages, with at least two being Indian languages.
As per a CBSE circular issued on May 15, studying three languages became compulsory for Class 9 students from July 1, 2026. The implementation date was later revised to July 10.
The petitioners contend that NEP 2020 envisaged the rollout of the three-language formula by the academic year 2029–30, but CBSE has advanced its implementation to the 2026–27 academic session. They also argue that there is a severe shortage of trained teachers and appropriate textbooks in schools, placing undue pressure on students. The policy, they say, also adversely affects students who are studying foreign languages.
CBSE informed the court that nearly half of its affiliated schools - around 47% - are already following the policy. The Ministry of Education and CBSE maintained that the objective of the policy is to promote multilingualism, with priority given to learning Indian languages as the third language.
'LEARNING ANY LANGUAGE IS NEVER A WASTE'
While refusing interim relief, the Supreme Court observed that learning any language is never a waste. At the same time, the court expressed concern over the implementation of the policy without ensuring the availability of adequate textbooks and trained teachers.
Under the policy, Class 9 students are required to study three languages, at least two of which must be Indian languages. However, there will be no Board examination for the third language in Class 10. Instead, students will be assessed through internal evaluation conducted by their respective schools.
