Supreme Court urges CBSE to allow Class VI exemption from three-language rule
The Supreme Court asked the Central Board of Secondary Education to consider letting Class VI students skip the three-language requirement for the current academic year.
In New Delhi, the Supreme Court reiterated its request that the Central Board of Secondary Education examine exempting Class VI pupils from the mandatory three-language policy, which currently requires at least two native languages. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana, addressed solicitor general Tushar Mehta, urging an extension of the relaxation already granted to Class VII.
Mehta confirmed that, together with additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, he will hold a meeting with CBSE officials and other relevant officers this week, with a follow-up report due at the next hearing on September 17. During the proceedings, Justice Bagchi highlighted the need for a broader debate on whether English should be classified as a native language. The court also issued a notice to CBSE regarding a fresh petition by the Forum of Minority Schools, whose counsel Romy Chacko claimed the policy infringes on constitutional protections for minority educational institutions.
Why it matters
The ruling could ease language-learning pressures for young students and affect how minority schools operate under constitutional safeguards.
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