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Education
Supreme Court tells Tamil Nadu it cannot drop Hindi from Navodaya schools
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 18 Sep 2026, 05:34 AM
👁 5
During a hearing on Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the Supreme Court warned the Tamil Nadu government that Hindi must remain a compulsory subject.
The Supreme Court, hearing a petition concerning the functioning of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in Tamil Nadu, emphasized that Hindi cannot be excluded from the schools' curriculum. The bench observed that the central scheme mandates Hindi as a core language subject across all states, and any deviation would defeat the purpose of a uniform national education policy.
Tamil Nadu officials were reminded that the Navodaya schools are funded and administered by the central government, and therefore must adhere to the prescribed syllabus, which includes Hindi from Class I onward. The court warned that non‑compliance could invite legal consequences and affect the schools' funding.
The hearing did not address other education issues in the state, focusing solely on the language requirement for Navodaya institutions. The matter is likely to be revisited after the state government submits its compliance plan.
Legal experts note that the ruling reinforces the central government's authority over centrally‑run schools and underscores the importance of Hindi as a link language in the Indian education system.
Tamil Nadu officials were reminded that the Navodaya schools are funded and administered by the central government, and therefore must adhere to the prescribed syllabus, which includes Hindi from Class I onward. The court warned that non‑compliance could invite legal consequences and affect the schools' funding.
The hearing did not address other education issues in the state, focusing solely on the language requirement for Navodaya institutions. The matter is likely to be revisited after the state government submits its compliance plan.
Legal experts note that the ruling reinforces the central government's authority over centrally‑run schools and underscores the importance of Hindi as a link language in the Indian education system.