Former Maharashtra minister and NCP-SCP leader Fauzia Khan on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court challenging the CBSE's three-language policy. The petition argues that the May 15 circular from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is arbitrary and unreasonable.
CBSE's three-language mandate
In its circular, the CBSE made it compulsory for Class IX students to study three languages, including two native Indian languages, starting from the 2026-27 academic year, which begins on July 1. The policy has sparked controversy, particularly in non-Hindi speaking states.
Alleged violation of NEP-2020
Khan, who is also an educationist, contended that forcing non-Hindi states to introduce Hindi or Sanskrit violates the National Education Policy-2020 (NEP-2020). She sought the Supreme Court's intervention to strike down the circular.
The petition emphasizes that the three-language policy infringes upon the federal structure and linguistic diversity of India. It argues that states should have the autonomy to decide their language policies as per the NEP-2020, which recommends flexibility.
Khan's legal challenge has garnered attention as it highlights the ongoing debate between central directives and state rights in education. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter in due course.
