Supreme Court on Thursday urged the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider its opposition to establishing Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in the state and to hold discussions with the Centre over concerns related to language policy. The remarks came during a hearing before a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih.

Justice Nagarathna said the state should reconsider its position that Hindi should not be taught in Tamil Nadu. The bench also stressed that the establishment of additional schools would not reduce the standards of education already followed in the state.

What Is the Supreme Court Case About?

The matter concerns Tamil Nadu's challenge to a Madras High Court direction to establish Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in every district. The state has raised concerns about the language structure of these schools and its existing two-language policy.

Tamil Nadu has argued that the Navodaya system is linked to the three-language formula and that this creates difficulties with the state's statutory language framework. The state has also raised financial and policy concerns over the establishment of the schools.

The Supreme Court, however, said education is part of the Concurrent List and highlighted the importance of cooperative federalism. The bench said Tamil Nadu could continue running its existing educational institutions and syllabus even if Navodaya schools are established.

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Court Calls for Centre-Tamil Nadu Dialogue

The bench asked representatives of the Tamil Nadu and Central governments to continue discussions to resolve the differences over language and the proposed schools.

The court also directed Tamil Nadu to comply with its December 15, 2025 order concerning identification of land required for establishing a Navodaya school in each district. The state was given three months for the exercise, while further consultations with the Centre were directed. The case has been listed for December 14.

Language Policy at the Centre of the Dispute

Tamil Nadu has maintained a two-language policy involving Tamil and English. In its earlier submissions, the state said the language framework associated with Navodaya schools was not compatible with this policy.

The Centre has previously told the Supreme Court that in Navodaya schools located in non-Hindi-speaking areas, regional languages or English are used for instruction in Classes VI to VIII, while English is used for several subjects in higher classes.

Supreme Court Highlights Additional Education Opportunities

Justice Nagarathna said Navodaya schools could provide additional educational opportunities without affecting Tamil Nadu's existing education system. The bench also rejected the suggestion that introducing such schools would necessarily lower the state's educational standards.

The court's observations came in the context of the wider dispute over language, education policy, Centre-State relations and the implementation of the Navodaya school scheme in Tamil Nadu.