Justice BV Nagarathna on Thursday urged the Centre not to introduce a third language in Class 9. She said students already face significant academic pressure before their Class 10 board examinations.
The remarks came during a Supreme Court hearing related to the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in Tamil Nadu. The case also touched upon concerns surrounding the three-language policy followed by CBSE schools.
Justice Nagarathna said introducing the third language in Class 9 could increase stress for students. She suggested that any additional language should instead be introduced from Class 6, giving children more time to learn before board examinations.
Court Highlights Academic Pressure
During the hearing, counsel informed the Bench that the third language becomes compulsory from Class 9 under the current framework. Responding to this, Justice Nagarathna said Class 9 is already a demanding stage for students.
Drawing from her own school experience, the judge recalled that students began learning a third language in middle school. She said introducing it earlier helps students prepare without adding pressure during secondary education.
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Remarks Directed at the Centre
Addressing the Union government, Justice Nagarathna said a new language should not begin in Class 9. She noted that students start preparing for board examinations from the end of Class 8.
She also observed that students today face greater academic demands than previous generations. Therefore, she said, introducing an additional language at an earlier stage would be more practical.
Case Linked to Tamil Nadu Appeal
The observations were made while hearing Tamil Nadu’s appeal against a Madras High Court order on establishing Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas across the state. The Bench noted that discussions between the Centre and the state government are still ongoing.
The court has posted the matter for further hearing after allowing more time for consultations. However, Justice Nagarathna’s observations have renewed the debate over the timing of introducing the third language in Class 9 under the CBSE curriculum.
