CBSE Third Language Row:  Supreme Court Justice B.V. Nagarathna on Thursday strongly objected to the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) decision to introduce a third language in Class 9, warning that it would add unnecessary academic pressure on students already preparing for board examinations. She suggested that if a third language must be taught, it should begin in Class 6 and be discontinued by Class 9, not introduced at that late stage.

The remarks came during the hearing of Tamil Nadu's appeal against a Madras High Court order directing the state to facilitate Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in every district. Tamil Nadu has long opposed JNVs over concerns tied to the three-language policy, though the CBSE language policy itself was not the direct subject of this case.

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What Did Justice Nagarathna Say?

"Union of India, please do not have a third language in Class 9. Pressure [of the Board exams] starts for children in Class 8," Justice Nagarathna remarked, adding that Ninth Standard is already a stressful year and that introducing a new language at that stage was "very bad."

She recommended starting it in Class 6 instead, drawing from her own schooling experience in the 1970s, where the third language was introduced in middle school to prepare students for their SSLC exams.

Does The Policy Mandate Hindi?

Justice Nagarathna clarified that the CBSE's three-language policy does not mandate Hindi specifically. "The State language has to be taught, English has to be taught and any third language. It doesn't say Hindi," she said.

When Tamil Nadu's counsel maintained objections around Hindi, the judge questioned why Sanskrit as an alternative would pose any issue, noting the National Education Policy is clear that no language should be imposed on any state.

What Is The Status Of CBSE Three-Language Policy Challenge?

The CBSE's three-language policy, introduced via a circular dated May 15, is separately being challenged in public interest petitions before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. That bench has so far declined to stay the policy's implementation and has scheduled the matter for hearing next week.

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What Did The Court Say About Navodaya Schools?

The Bench, which also included Justice R. Mahadevan, noted that talks between the Union and Tamil Nadu government regarding Navodaya school establishment are still ongoing.

Justice Nagarathna also cautioned the state against rejecting central schemes solely because they originate from the Union government, stating, "Don't have this attitude that it is the Union government, so why should we accept it." The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 11.

What is the background of the JNV case?

This matter stems from a challenge filed by Tamil Nadu against a Madras High Court ruling that had directed the establishment of a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) in every district of the state. The High Court had observed that the state's refusal to permit the opening of JNVs curtailed students' right to choose their educational institutions and violated the 'Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act' under Article 21A. Additionally, the Court had ordered temporary arrangements to be made for 240 students in each district. Following an appeal by the state, the Supreme Court stayed these directives in December 2017.

Tamil Nadu Government challenged a Madras High Court order directing the establishment in every district, which the Supreme Court stayed in 2017. In December 2025, the Court directed Union-State consultations on land and implementation. The Centre said 689 JNVs are sanctioned nationally, none in Tamil Nadu, as the State hasn't accepted the scheme. Tamil Nadu argues JNVs conflict with its statutory two-language policy under the 1968 Assembly resolution and the Tamil Nadu Tamil Learning Act, 2006, which mandates only Tamil and English, with a third language optional.