NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider exempting Class 6 students from its three-language policy for this academic year.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, while deferring the hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the CBSE’s three-language policy to September 17, asked the Board to explore the possibility of accommodating the students of Class 6 in the ongoing academic session, a PTI report said.
“Consider Class 6 for this year… If they can be given some accommodation,” the bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, told Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta.
Mehta requested the apex court to defer the hearing on the pleas as Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati was not available.
He assured that the officials concerned would consider the bench’s suggestion.
“All of us would sit together and revert to your lordship,” the top law officer said.
Senior counsel for one of the petitioners said the matter should not be delayed by further adjournments, as students have to take an examination and the delays were causing anxiety among their parents.
The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the CBSE’s policy mandating the study of three languages, including two native Indian languages, for Class 9 students from July 1.
On August 20, the Supreme Court stressed the need to find a solution to issues arising out of the CBSE policy mandating the study of three languages by Class 9 students, observing that children should not come under any kind of pressure.
It had said there was nothing wrong in introducing the policy but the only concern raised by the petitioners was about the manner in which it was being introduced.
The bench had noted that one of the aspects that was required to be considered was how to build adequate human resource infrastructure with regard to the language options available.
“If you have chosen Class 6 as the starting point, you may consider giving a reprieve to Class 6 students of this year. You can introduce it from next year,” it said.
The senior counsel for one of the petitioners has contended that the CBSE has no jurisdiction or authority to frame the curriculum for classes 6 to 8 as this has to be done by the NCERT.
According to a circular issued by the CBSE, the study of three languages, including at least two native Indian languages, has been made compulsory for Class 9 students beginning July 1.