Supreme Court orders Tamil Nadu to permit Hindi teaching in schools

The apex court delivered a landmark judgment directing the Tamil Nadu government to change its stance on language instruction and permit Hindi classes in state-run schools. The bench emphasized that the right to learn Hindi, as a link language, is constitutionally protected and cannot be denied by any state.

The court observed that the state's refusal to introduce Hindi has fostered linguistic segregation and hindered national integration. It instructed the state education department to formulate a framework for Hindi teaching without compromising the status of Tamil in the curriculum.

The ruling arrives amid ongoing debates over language policy across India, with several states asserting regional language primacy. Officials in Chennai have said they will review the order and work with educational bodies to implement the directive in compliance with the court's timeline.