CBSE’s 3-language rule for class 9: Supreme Court raises logistical issues, seeks Centre, NCERT reply

“First they said they will implement the change from 2029-30, which is three-four years away and students can adjust. But suddenly they have made a change and decided to implement it from July 1 in the 9th standard,” Rohatgi told the bench also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi.

Justice Bagchi said finding teachers would be a problem.

Rohatgi said what’s more startling is that they say they don’t have textbooks. They say take class 6 textbooks for class 9. “It’s a very, very important issue,” he said.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, also appearing for a petitioner, said it raises issues of language and federalism.

“Language is a matter of choice. I can understand you can say there is a national language, you must learn that. Of course you must learn. But otherwise, language is a matter of choice,” he said.

Justice Bagchi, however, sought to disagree with the argument that it raises a federal question and said: “It is an insistence on federalism in the country itself. By increasing the number of national languages…”

He said it raises “an issue of being unreasonable. The teachers are not there in the schools, the books are not there…”

Sibal said, “Third language has to be introduced in class 6, can’t be introduced otherwise”.
he bench fixed the matter for hearing next in July.

“Let them also get the all-India feedback. In the opening week, we will take it up. There are issues of hardship, inconvenience, logistic support which have been raised here. On the issue of language, some may say when you learn more languages, you strengthen federal structure, somebody may say …(the opposite)… Whatever it may be, the issues need to be addressed,” the CJI said.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for CBSE, said, “We will satisfy Your Lordships on how the policy is on what merits, how the transitional provisions have actually catered to the convenience, the comfort of the students. They are our students. There is no question of making it hard on the students.”