Centre Raises Legal Issue in Supreme Court Over Treating English as Native Language

The Union government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it has substantive objections to classifying English as an indigenous language within the framework of educational policy. Appearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the administration intends to submit formal arguments on the linguistic categorization while addressing ongoing disputes over the three-language scheme.

The proceedings before the apex court involve petitions challenging the implementation timelines of the Central Board of Secondary Education framework. Under current guidelines issued by educational authorities, students enrolled in Classes 7 through 9 currently stand exempted from stringent requirements, whereas the cohort entering Class 6 is slated to face full implementation, culminating in a mandatory third-language Board examination by 2031.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court bench, which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, addressed the operational hurdles tied to rolling out the policy across diverse educational jurisdictions. Justice Bagchi remarked that while the overarching formula would ultimately require implementation, educational authorities must ensure adequate infrastructural preparation. The bench specifically noted that children require sufficient time and foundational support to adapt to multilingual frameworks starting from early developmental years.

The court had previously instructed Additional Solicitor-General Aishwarya Bhati to secure explicit instructions on three core operational questions. These included examining whether a one-time exemption could be granted to the current Class 6 batch, evaluating how institutional human resources could be reinforced to sustain the policy, and assessing whether the framework ought to be introduced at earlier educational stages.

Addressing the court regarding student and parent anxiety, Solicitor-General Mehta assured the bench that the administration would move swiftly to hold consultative meetings concerning a reprieve for current Class 6 students. Mehta, standing in for Ms. Bhati, stated that administrative officials would convene urgently to formulate a definitive position on the one-time exemption from the mandatory board examination requirement.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the petitioners, pressed the bench for immediate judicial directions regarding the formal classification of English within non-native or foreign language categories. In response, Mr. Mehta asserted official opposition to that particular classification. We have an issue about that, Mr. Mehta told the court, adding that the administration desires an opportunity to present detailed legal submissions before any definitive judicial order is passed on language status.

Aside from the core dispute over language categorization and board examination timelines, the Supreme Court has formally issued notice to the Union government on separate petitions filed by minority educational institutions. These schools have challenged the constitutional and statutory applicability of the mandatory three-language framework to their respective administrative structures, adding another layer of legal complexity to the ongoing litigation.

Senior advocate Anand Grover, representing petitioners in the broader proceedings, urged the bench to prevent further administrative delays, highlighting mounting anxiety among families and academic administrators. The legal challenge touches upon fundamental questions of institutional autonomy, linguistic definitions, and the practical capability of schools to implement sweeping curriculum reforms within compressed deadlines.

The bench agreed to grant a short adjournment after Solicitor-General Mehta noted that Additional Solicitor-General Aishwarya Bhati was unable to address the court during Wednesday's session due to personal scheduling difficulties. The matter has now been formally rescheduled for further hearing on September 17, 2026.

Pending the resumed proceedings, the central government is expected to conclude its internal consultations regarding the Class 6 exemption and finalize its formal legal response concerning the indigenous status of English. The court's eventual directions on September 17 will determine whether current students receive immediate statutory relief from the 2031 board examination mandate.