SC suggests introducing CBSE's third language in Class 5 or 6 instead of Class 9

The Supreme Court on Thursday voiced concern over the introduction of a third language from Class 9 under the Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE curriculum observing that it could increase the stress levels of students and suggesting that such a language should instead be introduced in Class 5 or Class 6 news agency PTI reportedA bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan orally advised the Centre against introducing a third language from Class 9Union of India please dont have a third language from Class 9 level It would unnecessarily increase the stress level of students If you want to introduce a new language then please do it at Class 5 or Class 6 level but not at Class 9 level Class nine is full of stress it starts from Class 8 onwards Justice Nagarathna told the counsel appearing for the Centre asking her to convey the courts views to the governmentThe observations were made during the hearing of the Tamil Nadu governments plea challenging a Madras High Court order directing the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas JNVs in every district of the stateTamil Nadu has consistently opposed the establishment of JNVs citing concerns over the threelanguage policy followed by the schoolsThe bench clarified that it was not directly examining the CBSEs new language policy It was hearing the dispute over the establishment of JNVs but made observations on the timing of introducing a third language in schoolsTamil Nadu reiterates objections to threelanguage policyAnother bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant is already hearing petitions challenging the CBSEs new policy and had recently declined to stay the notificationDuring the hearing counsel for the Tamil Nadu government submitted that the states objection was centred on the threelanguage policyJustice Nagarathna observed that the policy did not mandate Hindi as the third languageThe State language has to be taught English has to be taught and any third language It doesnt say Hindi she remarkedAdvocate G Priyadarshini appearing for respondent NGO Kumari Maha Sabha which had moved the high court submitted that the National Education Policy clearly states that no language should be imposed on any stateJustice Nagarathna then asked the Tamil Nadu government You dont want Hindi but if its Sanskrit what is the issueThe states counsel replied that the third language becomes compulsory only from Class 9Court asks Tamil Nadu not to reject Central schemesResponding to this Justice Nagarathna said No thats very bad Class 9 is very stressful Why do you introduce a new language in Class 9 Why dont you introduce it in Class 6thRecalling her school days Justice Nagarathna said students had the option of choosing the third language in Class 9She said students in her school began learning the third language during middle schoolIt was Kannada for those who had a second language as Hindi and vice versa Sanskrit was also there so you could have a third language The earlier the better she observedJustice Nagarathna also questioned the Tamil Nadu governments opposition to Central schemes merely because they originated from the Union governmentYou may have your education system but dont prevent the Central government schoolshellip You should not have this attitude that it is the Union government scheme so why should we accept it she saidNavodaya schools row SC posts matter for hearing on August 11The bench noted that discussions between the Centre and the state over establishing Navodaya schools were still underwayTalks have not concluded If that fails then only a question of us addressing any merits arises the bench observedThe states counsel sought additional time to obtain further instructionsThe bench also noted that a new dispensation had come to power in the state and observed that it remained to be seen what policy approach the new government would adoptThe matter has been posted for further hearing on August 11The Tamil Nadu government has challenged the Madras High Courts 2017 order directing the establishment of a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in every district of the stateTamil Nadus legal battle over Jawahar Navodaya VidyalayasThe high court had held that the states refusal to permit JNVs curtailed students right to choose educational institutions and was inconsistent with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009The Supreme Court stayed the high courts directions on December 11 2017 after the state challenged the rulingOn December 15 2025 the apex court modified the stay order and directed the Tamil Nadu government to identify the required land for setting up a Navodaya Vidyalaya in every district within six weeks and submit a report to the courtThe court clarified that the directions were issued solely in the interest of students eligible for admission to such schools in Tamil Nadu It also directed representatives of the Centre and the state to continue discussions on establishing the schoolsWith PTI inputs