Supreme Court's Strong Remarks Against Tamil Nadu's Opposition To Hindi - NDTV

**Supreme Court Rebukes Tamil Nadu Over Hindi Opposition in Navodaya Schools Case**

During a hearing on the pending Navodaya Vidyalaya land‑allocation dispute, the Supreme Court of India delivered a pointed admonition to the Tamil Nadu government for its entrenched opposition to the teaching of Hindi in the centrally‑run schools. Citing the constitutional mandate that the three‑language formula be implemented in all states, the bench warned that “it cannot be that Hindi will not be taught in Tamil Nadu,” and urged the state to discard what it termed a “anti‑Hindi mindset.” The remarks came as part of a broader directive for the state to identify suitable land for new Navodaya campuses, a long‑standing demand of the central government aimed at expanding quality education in rural areas.

Tamil Nadu officials retorted that language is a fundamental right protected under Article 30 of the Constitution, arguing that compulsory Hindi instruction infringes on the cultural and linguistic autonomy of the state’s Tamil‑speaking majority. The state’s counsel highlighted past court pronouncements affirming the freedom of states to choose the medium of instruction in schools and warned that imposing Hindi could exacerbate regional sensitivities. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the central government’s policy of promoting Hindi as a link language does not contravene constitutional safeguards, provided it is introduced alongside the mother‑tongue and English.

Legal experts note that the Court’s intervention reflects a broader tension between federal language policy and state autonomy, a debate that has resurfaced periodically since the 1960s. While the ruling does not mandate immediate Hindi instruction, it signals that any refusal to cooperate with the Navodaya scheme may be viewed as non‑compliance with a constitutional directive. The next steps involve Tamil Nadu submitting a detailed land‑identification report within the stipulated timeline, after which the central government can proceed with establishing the new schools.