The Crossbill Team
The Supreme Court is examining the Centre’s three-language formula for school students, with the Union government telling the court that it objects to classifying English as an indigenous Indian language.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the Centre also indicated that it would urgently consult officials on whether students currently in Class 6 could be given a one-time exemption from appearing for a mandatory third-language Board examination, The Hindu reported.
Appearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioners, sought directions on the categorisation of English as a “non-native” or foreign language.
Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, responded, “We have an issue about that. We would like to make submissions on that.”
Mehta said a meeting with the officials concerned would be held “today or tomorrow”, in the presence of additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, to take a decision on the issue.
The government sought a brief adjournment as Bhati was unable to appear before the court because of a personal difficulty. The Centre nevertheless assured the bench that consultations on providing relief to the current Class 6 batch would be taken up promptly.
The hearing also saw Justice Joymalya Bagchi stress the need to allow adequate time for students and educational institutions to adjust to the language policy.
“You have to give some time not only for students but also for infrastructure to come on par across the various education boards. It is a good policy to start with the mother tongue, then an indigenous language, and then another indigenous or foreign language. But all this should be started when the children are a little younger, in a lower class, giving them time to adapt,” said Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
The dispute stems from the Central Board of Secondary Education’s three-language formula, under which students are required to study three languages, including two native to India. The curriculum issued in April said the arrangement would be introduced progressively from Class 6 this year.
The classification of English has been a point of particular interest in the proceedings. In July, the Supreme Court had questioned whether English, given its widespread use in India over centuries, could be described as an “indigenous Indian language”.
On July 14, Justice Bagchi had also observed that the word ‘native’ used by CBSE in its three-language policy was significant since the term does not find mention in the Constitution or statute books.
The court’s earlier observations had raised hopes among petitioners and others seeking a less rigid approach to language education. The current proceedings have also brought renewed attention to concerns that the three-language formula could facilitate the “imposition” of Hindi, particularly in southern states.
The Centre’s latest position indicates that the classification of English remains unresolved, even as the court considers the practical implications of implementing the language requirement for students already enrolled in Class 6.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the Centre also indicated that it would urgently consult officials on whether students currently in Class 6 could be given a one-time exemption from appearing for a mandatory third-language Board examination, The Hindu reported.
Appearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioners, sought directions on the categorisation of English as a “non-native” or foreign language.
Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, responded, “We have an issue about that. We would like to make submissions on that.”
Mehta said a meeting with the officials concerned would be held “today or tomorrow”, in the presence of additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, to take a decision on the issue.
The government sought a brief adjournment as Bhati was unable to appear before the court because of a personal difficulty. The Centre nevertheless assured the bench that consultations on providing relief to the current Class 6 batch would be taken up promptly.
The hearing also saw Justice Joymalya Bagchi stress the need to allow adequate time for students and educational institutions to adjust to the language policy.
“You have to give some time not only for students but also for infrastructure to come on par across the various education boards. It is a good policy to start with the mother tongue, then an indigenous language, and then another indigenous or foreign language. But all this should be started when the children are a little younger, in a lower class, giving them time to adapt,” said Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
The dispute stems from the Central Board of Secondary Education’s three-language formula, under which students are required to study three languages, including two native to India. The curriculum issued in April said the arrangement would be introduced progressively from Class 6 this year.
The classification of English has been a point of particular interest in the proceedings. In July, the Supreme Court had questioned whether English, given its widespread use in India over centuries, could be described as an “indigenous Indian language”.
On July 14, Justice Bagchi had also observed that the word ‘native’ used by CBSE in its three-language policy was significant since the term does not find mention in the Constitution or statute books.
The court’s earlier observations had raised hopes among petitioners and others seeking a less rigid approach to language education. The current proceedings have also brought renewed attention to concerns that the three-language formula could facilitate the “imposition” of Hindi, particularly in southern states.
The Centre’s latest position indicates that the classification of English remains unresolved, even as the court considers the practical implications of implementing the language requirement for students already enrolled in Class 6.
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