Tamil Nadu has reiterated that it will continue with its Tamil-English two-language policy and will not provide land for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), despite the Supreme Court asking the state to reconsider its position on Hindi.
The dispute has brought the state’s long-standing language policy into focus once again, with the proposed Navodaya schools becoming the latest point of disagreement between Tamil Nadu and the Centre.
The Supreme Court, while hearing the matter on September 17, asked Tamil Nadu to comply with an earlier direction to identify suitable land in every district for setting up Navodaya schools. The court gave the state another three months for the exercise and encouraged Tamil Nadu and the Centre to continue discussions.
Supreme Court questions Tamil Nadu’s stand on Hindi
A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih questioned the state’s opposition to the language framework followed by Navodaya schools.
During the hearing, Justice Nagarathna observed, “You have to change your mindset, it can’t be that Hindi will not be taught in the soil of Tamil Nadu.”
The court also stressed the importance of cooperation between the Centre and the state, saying differences over language and education should not prevent both sides from working together.
The court did not recall its earlier direction concerning the identification of land. Instead, Tamil Nadu was given additional time to identify suitable land while discussions between the state and Centre continue.
Tamil Nadu says there will be no change
Despite the court’s observations, Tamil Nadu has maintained that its language policy will remain unchanged.
School Education Minister Rajmohan Arumugam said the state would continue following its two-language formula of Tamil and English. He also said Tamil Nadu would not provide land for establishing the proposed Navodaya schools.
The minister maintained that the state’s position should not be interpreted as opposition to Hindi itself, but as a stand in favour of protecting Tamil and the state’s existing education policy.
The state’s position has also received support from other political leaders, keeping the language issue at the centre of the debate over Navodaya schools.
Why are Navodaya schools at the centre of the dispute?
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are centrally funded residential schools administered by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti under the Union Ministry of Education.
The schools follow the CBSE curriculum and operate under a three-language framework. Tamil Nadu, however, has traditionally followed a two-language approach based on Tamil and English.
The state has opposed the establishment of JNVs largely because of concerns over the language model followed by these schools.
Tamil Nadu has argued that introducing the three-language framework through Navodaya schools could conflict with its established education policy and raise concerns over the role of Hindi in the state’s school system.
Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy
The state’s language policy has deep political and historical roots.
Tamil Nadu has for decades maintained that students should study Tamil and English rather than being required to follow a three-language formula.
The issue has remained politically sensitive because of the state’s history of opposition to compulsory Hindi education.
The present dispute, however, involves more than language alone. It also raises questions about the relationship between the Centre and states in implementing centrally funded educational programmes.
Supreme Court asks both sides to continue dialogue
The Supreme Court has emphasised that Tamil Nadu and the Centre should continue discussions rather than allow their differences over language policy to prevent the proposed schools from being established.
The court has also indicated that the creation of additional schools would not necessarily undermine Tamil Nadu’s existing education system.
Tamil Nadu has been given three months to identify land for the proposed schools, while the broader dispute over the language framework remains unresolved. The matter is scheduled to come up again before the Supreme Court on December 14.
For now, the two sides remain apart: the Supreme Court has asked Tamil Nadu to facilitate the process of establishing Navodaya schools, while the state government continues to defend its two-language policy and its opposition to providing land for the institutions.
