Streamline three-language policy: SC to Centre, NCERT, CBSE

New Delhi: Flagging certain issues with the Central Board of Secondary Education's newly mandated three-language policy, the Supreme Court on Thursday urged the board, the central government and the National Council of Educational Research and Training to revisit and streamline it.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana verbally expressed reservations about the policy to treat English as a "non-native language".

The bench asked whether Class 6 students of the current academic year could be given relaxation. It also raised concerns over the availability of teachers and textbooks for indigenous languages.


The development took place during the resumed hearing of a clutch of petitions challenging CBSE's circulars introducing the three-language policy.

Speaking for the bench, justice Bagchi verbally questioned the basis of treating English as a non-native language. "We have to examine the extent to which English can be considered a non-indigenous language. First, I personally have serious reservations about the expression 'native'. It has a very colonial connotation. It should be 'indigenous'," justice Bagchi verbally remarked. "Secondly, if you see the historical perspective of English and the extent of its roots in Indian society, we will have to take a final call, although it is your policy, on the constitutional angle, whether English is a non-indigenous language or an indigenous language. If you do that, these rough edges can be largely taken care of."

Treating the issue requires a constitutional analysis, having regard to the historical experience and the fact that several states have English as an official language, justice Bagchi added.

On relaxation for Class 6, justice Bagchi said: "The second thing which is really troubling the petitioners is whether students presently in Class 6 can also be given a reprieve from taking the final test in Class 10. The option is 23 languages in theory. But in reality, as you rightly said, only around 4% of schools are under CBSE and 96% are under state boards."

The judge said if suddenly another indigenous language has to be taught, the board would have to give some time not only to the students but also for the infrastructure of schools to come on a par.

"If this can be reconsidered by the council with regard to the applicability to these classes, and it can instead be scaled down to the lower standards, that would give greater assistance to students and their parents in taking a call," justice Bagchi added.

The bench also questioned CBSE on infrastructure and the availability of trained teachers to teach indigenous languages.