The Supreme Court was on Tuesday urged to urgently hear petitions challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) three-language policy for Class 9 students, with petitioners arguing that the implementation process has created uncertainty for students as the academic session has already begun. The pleas question the CBSE's requirement that students study three languages, including two Indian languages, under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.  Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for one of the petitioners, requested a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana to list the matter for hearing either on Wednesday or Thursday.

He told the court that students were being left in a difficult situation due to the lack of clarity over implementation and claimed that schools did not have adequate resources to follow the policy. The counsel argued that many CBSE-affiliated schools lacked sufficient teachers and textbooks required to introduce the three-language structure. "We will see," Chief Justice Surya Kant said while responding to the request for an urgent hearing. The court had earlier sought responses from the Centre, CBSE, and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on petitions challenging the policy. The Supreme Court had previously listed the matter for hearing on July 29 and sought explanations from the concerned authorities.

In their respective affidavits, the Centre, CBSE, and NCERT strongly defended the implementation of the three-language framework, stating that it was aligned with the objectives of NEP 2020 and aimed at encouraging multilingualism and national integration. The authorities urged the court to dismiss the petitions challenging the policy, arguing that learning multiple languages would benefit students and strengthen cultural understanding. They maintained that the framework was designed to provide students with broader linguistic skills while promoting India's diverse linguistic heritage. However, petitioners have raised objections over the manner in which the policy is being implemented.

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During an earlier hearing, a senior lawyer alleged that CBSE circulars introducing the language requirement were unlawful and inconsistent with provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The lawyer argued that students were being required to study additional languages without sufficient alternatives. "They are imposing languages without alternatives," the lawyer had told the court during the previous hearing. The petitioners have also questioned whether schools across the country have the infrastructure and teaching capacity needed to implement the policy effectively.

Before this, the Supreme Court had asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to submit a report regarding CBSE's logistical preparedness for implementing the decision. The court wanted details on whether schools had the necessary arrangements, including trained teachers and learning materials, before the policy was introduced. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing petitioner Yashica Bhandari Jain and others, had earlier submitted that CBSE issued a nationwide circular stating that students would have to study three languages from the next academic year.

The petitioners have sought clarity on the legal basis of the requirement and the practical challenges involved in its implementation. The dispute comes amid a broader national debate over language education policies introduced under NEP 2020. While the government has described the three-language approach as a tool for promoting linguistic diversity and unity, critics have raised concerns about its impact on students, schools, and regional language preferences. The Supreme Court's upcoming hearing is expected to examine both the legal and practical aspects of the CBSE policy.

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