Supreme Court Justice Urges Government to Avoid Third Language in Class 9
Justice B.V. Nagarathna of the Supreme Court of India made an oral appeal in open court on Thursday, asking the Union government not to introduce a third language in Class 9 under the Three-Language Scheme. She said that doing so would place undue stress on students who are already preparing for the Class 10 Board examinations.
“Third language should stop in Class 9, not start in Class 9,” Justice Nagarathna, heading a Division Bench, remarked. She suggested that a third language should be introduced in Class 6 instead, allowing it to be phased out before the pressure of Board exams begins.
Justice Nagarathna recalled her own school experience, noting that lessons for Class 10 were taught as early as Class 8 in 1976. She highlighted the increased pressure on students today and urged the government to reconsider the timing of the language policy.
The court was hearing petitions regarding the introduction of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in Tamil Nadu. The previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government had opposed the scheme, arguing that its three-language formula—compulsory instruction in Hindi, English, and a regional language—was incompatible with the state’s two-language policy enshrined in the Tamil Nadu Tamil Learning Act, 2006.
Justice Nagarathna advised the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led government not to deprive children of Tamil Nadu of the opportunity to attend central schools under the Navodaya scheme. She clarified that Hindi was not compulsory under the three-language formula and that students could opt for other languages, such as Sanskrit.
“Children could opt for any other language. It need not be Hindi. Why not Sanskrit? All other states have Navodaya schools. Why not have them for the children of Tamil Nadu?” the judge asked.
Senior advocate Haripriya Padmanabhan, representing the Tamil Nadu government, adopted a cautious stance, stating that the new government was engaged in discussions about the Navodaya scheme and needed time to formulate its policy.
The court granted the state government three weeks to consult with stakeholders regarding compliance with a December 2025 Supreme Court order that directed Tamil Nadu to identify land for establishing Navodaya schools in every district.
Advocates for respondent Kumari Maha Sabha noted that children in Tamil Nadu were performing well in CBSE schools, with pass percentages as high as 99.9%. The next hearing is scheduled for August 11.
