Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Plea Against CBSE’s New Language Mandate

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear next week a plea challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) new policy mandating the study of three languages for Class 9 students beginning July 1. The petition questions the implementation of the revised language framework introduced through a recent CBSE circular and argues that the move could create confusion among students, parents and schools across the country.

The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi. Describing the case as an urgent public interest litigation (PIL), Rohatgi told the court that the petition had been filed by a group of students, teachers and parents concerned about the implications of the new policy.

During the hearing, Rohatgi urged the court to list the matter immediately, warning that implementation of the policy from July 1 could lead to “chaos” in schools and among students preparing for the academic session. He argued that the revised language requirement imposes additional academic pressure and raises concerns regarding preparedness, availability of teachers and uniform implementation across different states and school systems.

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The Chief Justice, however, informed the petitioner that the matter would be taken up next week, noting that the Supreme Court was currently observing a miscellaneous week. While the court did not issue any interim order on Friday, its decision to hear the plea has brought renewed attention to the debate surrounding language policy in school education.

Under the CBSE’s recent circular, students entering Class 9 will be required to study three languages, including at least two native Indian languages. The policy aligns with the broader objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates multilingual learning and the promotion of regional languages as part of school education reforms. Supporters of the move argue that it encourages linguistic diversity and strengthens cultural understanding among students.

However, critics of the policy contend that its implementation could be difficult in several regions due to varying language preferences, shortages of qualified language teachers and concerns over increased academic burden. The upcoming hearing in the Supreme Court is expected to address both the constitutional and practical aspects of the policy, with stakeholders closely watching the outcome given its potential impact on millions of students affiliated with CBSE schools nationwide.

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