Former Maharashtra minister and NCP-SCP leader Fauzia Khan on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) policy that made it compulsory for Class IX students to study three languages, including two native Indian languages, from 2026-27 academic year commencing on July 1.
In its May 15 circular, the CBSE made the study of three languages, including at least two native Indian languages, compulsory for Class IX students beginning July 1.
The decision is in tune with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 which emphasised multilingualism and the “three-language formula”, encouraging students to learn multiple languages, including at least two Indian languages, with flexibility left to states and schools to choose the languages.
CBSE students typically studied two languages — English and Hindi or a regional language up to Class X. However, the May 15 circular requires students beginning Class 9 to study an additional language, increasing the number of languages studied at the secondary level.
Khan, an educationist, contended that the CBSE’s May 15 circular was arbitrary and unreasonable and sought the top court’s intervention alleging forcing non-Hindi states to introduce Hindi or Sanskrit violated the National Education Policy 2020.
“The impugned circular acknowledges this teacher shortage in its own text, yet proceeds to mandate compliance. The result is that the only practical purpose served by the impugned circular, in the southern States, is the compulsory introduction of Hindi, and in the northern states, the compulsory introduction of Sanskrit, without any stated educational rationale,” she submitted.
The Supreme Court had on May 27 issued notices to the Centre, the CBSE and the NCERT on another PIL challenging the CBSE’s three-language policy.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had asked them to file “comprehensive” replies within two weeks and posted the matter for hearing in the second week of July.
It also asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to submit a report on the logistical preparedness of the CBSE for implementing the decision.
On behalf of the petitioners Yashica Bhandari Jain and others, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi had submitted that the CBSE’s May 15 circular mandated students to study three languages from the very next academic year. “Even textbooks are not available,” Rohatgi submitted.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the matter raised important constitutional issues, and that it was a “federal issue” as well. Maintaining that language was a matter of choice, Sibal said it can’t be imposed.
While seeking urgent hearing of the petition challenging the three-language policy of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Rohatgi had on May 22 said it will create chaos. “How can they suddenly learn it and appear in Tenth?” he had wondered.
The petitioners have sought quashing of the May 15 CBSE circular on three-language policy and restoration of the position declared in the Board’s April 9 notification deferring compulsory implementation of the three-language for Class IX until 2029-30.
They have demanded an interim protection against enforcement of the revised policy for existing students.
Terming it an arbitrary decision, the petitioners submitted that schools, students and parents had planned their academic year relying on that representation, and that the sudden change with barely weeks before implementation has caused widespread uncertainty and disruption.
