CBSE 3-language policy: Supreme Court seeks exemption for current Class 6 batch

The Supreme Court has asked CBSE to consider exempting the current Class 6 batch from its three-language policy this academic year. The hearing on pleas challenging the policy has been deferred to September 17.

In Short

• Supreme Court asked CBSE to consider exempting Class 6 from three-language policy this year
• Hearing on policy deferred to September 17 by three-judge bench
• Court stressed children should not face pressure due to policy implementation

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider exempting Class 6 students from its three-language policy for the ongoing academic session.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant deferred the hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the CBSE's three-language policy to September 17 and asked the Board to explore the possibility of accommodating Class 6 students this year.

The bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, suggested while hearing pleas challenging the CBSE's decision to make the study of three languages compulsory for Class 9 students from July 1.

SUPREME COURT ASKS CBSE TO CONSIDER RELIEF FOR CLASS 6 STUDENTS

"Consider Class 6 for this year... If they can be given some accommodation," the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

Mehta sought an adjournment as Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati was unavailable. He, however, assured the court that the concerned officials would consider its suggestion.

"All of us would sit together and revert to your lordship," the Solicitor General said.

Senior counsel appearing for one of the petitioners urged the court not to delay the matter further, pointing out that students would eventually have to appear for an examination and that the issue was causing anxiety among their parents.

WHAT SUPREME COURT SAID ON AUGUST 20

The Supreme Court had on August 20 stressed the need to find a solution to concerns arising from the CBSE's three-language policy, observing that children should not be put under pressure.

The court had said there was nothing wrong with introducing the policy, but noted that the petitioners' concern was about the manner in which it was being introduced.

The bench had also noted that one of the aspects that needed to be considered was how to build adequate human resource infrastructure with regard to the language options available.

"If you have chosen Class 6 as the starting point, you may consider giving a reprieve to Class 6 students of this year. You can introduce it from next year," the bench had said.

PLEAS CHALLENGE CBSE'S AUTHORITY TO FRAME CURRICULUM

Senior counsel for one of the petitioners has contended that the CBSE has no jurisdiction or authority to frame the curriculum for Classes 6 to 8, as this has to be done by the NCERT.

On May 27, the Supreme Court had agreed to examine a plea challenging the policy and issued notices to the Centre, CBSE and NCERT seeking their responses.

WHAT IS CBSE'S THREE LANGUAGE POLICY?

According to a circular issued by the CBSE, the study of three languages, including at least two native Indian languages, has been made compulsory for Class 9 students from July 1.

The move is part of the CBSE's alignment of its scheme of studies with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE), 2023.

According to the circular issued on May 15, students opting for a foreign language may do so only as the third language after studying two native Indian languages, or as an additional fourth language.

(With PTI inputs)

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