NEW DELHI: Flagging the introduction of a third language in schools, Supreme Court Thursday said the decision to introduce it at the Class IX level would put unnecessary stress on students preparing for board examinations.A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan made the observation while hearing Tamil Nadu govt’s appeal against a Madras HC direction to facilitate the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in every district of the state. Petitions challenging the policy of third language are pending before a bench headed by the CJI.Justice Nagarathna said if a third language had to be taught, it should be introduced in Class VI. Tamil Nadu govt said the state’s objection was related to the three-language policy. The bench, however, said the policy did not say that Hindi is compulsory. “The state language has to be taught, English has to be taught and any third language. It doesn’t say Hindi.”Responding to the contention that third language becomes compulsory from Class IX, Justice Nagarathna said, “You introduce it in Class VI. Earlier the better.”
