27 May,2026 06:37 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The court stated that, at this stage, it was not examining the broader federal issues linked to language policy. File Pic
The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine the validity of the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) revised three-language formula for Class 9 students.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, issued notices to the Centre, the Central Board of Secondary Education and the National Council of Educational Research and Training seeking detailed responses on the matter, reported the IANS.
The Bench, however, declined to grant an interim stay on the implementation of the policy. The matter is expected to be heard again in the second week of July after the Supreme Court reopens following the summer vacation.
During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that the CBSE circular effectively compels students to study three languages from July 1 despite schools not being adequately prepared.
He informed the court that textbooks for the new language requirement were still unavailable, raising concerns over the practical implementation of the policy.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing in a connected matter, argued that the issue involved larger constitutional questions, including federalism and linguistic freedom.
"Language is a matter of choice and cannot be imposed," Sibal submitted before the Bench, the news agency reported.
The court stated that, at this stage, it was not examining the broader federal issues linked to language policy. Instead, the Bench said it was currently concerned with practical aspects such as the availability of teachers, textbooks and other educational resources.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, opposed the demand for urgent interim relief. She argued that the issue could be examined in detail later and that the implementation would remain subject to the Supreme Court's final decision.
Under the CBSE circular issued on 15 May, Class 9 students will now have to study three languages - referred to as R1, R2 and R3 - as part of the transition towards the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, according to the IANS.
The revised framework requires at least two of the three languages to be native Indian languages. Students may choose a foreign language only as the third language or as an optional fourth language.
CBSE has stated that, until dedicated Class 9 textbooks are published, schools may use Class 6 textbooks for the third language.
The Board also clarified that there would be no separate Board examination for the third language at the Class 10 level, and assessments would remain internal.
Acknowledging possible shortages of qualified language teachers, CBSE said schools could adopt temporary measures during the transition period. These include inter-school sharing of teachers, hybrid learning methods and the appointment of retired educators, as per the IANS.
Meanwhile, former BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai urged CBSE to withdraw the circular, saying the sudden implementation would place additional pressure on students and parents.
In a post on X, Annamalai stated that while he had initially welcomed the three-language framework announced earlier in April 2026, the latest decision to implement it immediately for Class 9 students had created anxiety, especially in Tamil Nadu where language issues remain politically sensitive.
He argued that students who had already selected their language options in Class 6 should not now be forced to take up an additional language midway through their schooling.
Annamalai further warned that abrupt changes to the curriculum could negatively affect students' academic performance and appealed to CBSE to reconsider the move.
(with IANS inputs)
