The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider exempting Class 6 students from the three-language policy for the current academic year.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant deferred the hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the policy until September 17. The bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, asked the Board to explore whether Class 6 students could be accommodated during the ongoing academic session.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought an adjournment as Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati was unavailable. He assured the court that officials would consider its suggestion and respond at the next hearing.

Counsel for one of the petitioners urged the court to avoid further delays, saying the matter was causing anxiety among parents as students would have to take examinations.

During an earlier hearing on August 20, the court said the policy’s implementation should not place children under pressure. It also raised concerns about the availability of teachers for the different language options and suggested that the policy could be introduced for Class 6 from the next academic year.

The petitions challenge the CBSE policy requiring students to study three languages, including at least two native Indian languages. The policy is part of the Board’s alignment with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023.

Under the CBSE circular issued on May 15, students choosing a foreign language may study it as the third language only after taking two native Indian languages, or as an additional fourth language.

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