Supreme Court questions CBSE on three-language policy, seeks relief for Class 6

The Supreme Court questioned CBSE over its three-language policy, asking how English could be classified as a "non-native" language. It directed the Centre, NCERT and CBSE to reconsider implementation and explore relief for Class 6 students.CBSE three-language policy: SC questions Board, seeks relief for Class 6 (Image courtesy: Getty Images)The Supreme Court, while hearing a case concerning the three-language policy for Class 9 students under the CBSE, posed several questions to the Board and asked it to explore options for providing relief to Class 6 students.A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana asked the CBSE how English could be classified as a “non-native” language.The Court directed the Central Government, NCERT and CBSE to reconsider the implementation of the policy.The Supreme Court asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the CBSE, to “go back to the drawing board” on the issue, reconsider the matter afresh and return to the Court. The bench also asked the CBSE to examine the possibility of granting relief to Class 6 students. It directed that the issue be considered seriously and that the Court be apprised of the situation thereafter.ABOUT LAST HEARINGOn August 4, 2026, the Supreme Court deferred the hearing on petitions challenging the mandatory implementation of the CBSE three-language policy for Class 9 after the matter was removed from the court’s cause list. Petitioners urged the court to take up the issue urgently, saying students across the country were already being affected as the academic session was underway. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan told the court that many schools lacked the required teachers and textbooks for the languages offered, affecting students from Classes 5 to 10.He argued that schools were unable to provide the full range of language choices envisaged under the policy and sought urgent intervention.- EndsPublished By: Karan YadavPublished On: Aug 20, 2026 18:27 IST