Law

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) new three-language policy for Class 9 students has reached the Supreme Court, with a fresh legal challenge questioning its constitutional validity and educational rationale.

The petition has been filed by educationist and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Fauzia Khan, who has argued that the policy is arbitrary, impractical and inconsistent with the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

What the Petition Challenges

The plea targets a CBSE circular issued on May 15, which mandates that Class 9 students study three languages from July 1 onwards, with at least two Indian languages.

According to the petition, the rule effectively forces schools in non-Hindi-speaking states to introduce Hindi, while institutions in northern states may be pushed toward Sanskrit, without adequate academic justification or resources.

The petitioner also highlighted a key contradiction: while CBSE acknowledges a shortage of qualified language teachers, it still proceeds with mandatory implementation.

Foreign Language as Fourth Option Only

Under the new framework, students may opt for a foreign language only as a fourth subject, provided they have already studied two Indian languages.

The policy aligns with NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, both of which promote multilingual learning and exposure to Indian languages.

Concerns Over Feasibility and Equity

The petition argues that the mandate could disproportionately affect students in linguistically diverse states, particularly in South India, where concerns over compulsory Hindi instruction have historically triggered political and educational debates.

It further claims that the policy may not be implementable in many schools due to a lack of trained teachers, infrastructure and learning materials.

Supreme Court Already Seized of Matter

The Supreme Court had earlier issued notice on a similar petition challenging the CBSE’s language policy on May 27, indicating that the issue is already under judicial consideration.

With the latest plea, the legal scrutiny over the three-language formula is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.

CBSE’s Stand Through Policy Alignment

CBSE has defended the policy as part of its broader alignment with NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023, which emphasize multilingual proficiency as a key educational goal.

The board maintains that learning multiple languages enhances cognitive development and cultural understanding among students.

A Wider Debate on Language and Education

The case has reignited a long-standing national debate over language policy in school education, balancing constitutional diversity with national curriculum standardisation.

As the matter progresses in the Supreme Court, the outcome could have significant implications for how languages are taught across India’s school system, particularly in CBSE-affiliated institutions.

Patna: In a dramatic twist to the high-profile coaching institute clash that rocked Patna, a local court has granted interim protection from arrest to popular educator Khan Sir while denying bail to his rival, Gyan Bindu coaching director Raushan Anand.

The contrasting decisions have intensified an already bitter feud between two of the city's prominent coaching figures, whose rivalry allegedly spiraled into violence, vandalism and gunfire allegations earlier this month.

Khan Sir Gets Temporary Protection

Principal District and Sessions Judge Rupesh Deo directed that no coercive action be taken against Faisal Khan, popularly known as Khan Sir, until the next hearing in the June 2 firing case linked to Khan Global Studies (KGS).

The court, however, instructed Khan Sir to cooperate fully with investigators while it examines the case diary and details regarding his criminal antecedents.

The educator's legal team welcomed the order, calling it a significant relief. Prosecutors had opposed the plea, citing statements allegedly made by one of the arrested security guards that purportedly linked Khan Sir to the firing incident.

Rival Raushan Anand Remains Behind Bars

While Khan Sir secured temporary relief, the court rejected the regular bail application of Raushan Anand, director of Gyan Bindu GS Academy.

Anand was arrested after Khan Sir accused him of masterminding the attack outside the coaching institute. He and two associates have remained in judicial custody since June 3.

The bail rejection has triggered protests among some students and supporters, who claim the allegations are politically motivated and lack evidence.

Coaching Rivalry Turns Violent

According to investigators, the violence was rooted in a long-running rivalry between Khan Global Studies and Gyan Bindu GS Academy.

The June 2 incident reportedly involved vandalism, physical confrontations and allegations of gunfire outside Khan Global Studies in Patna.

Police have cited CCTV footage that allegedly shows property damage and assaults during the clash. Separate video footage is also said to show security personnel associated with Khan Global Studies firing weapons during the incident.

Two security guards were subsequently arrested, and the firearms allegedly used have been sent for forensic examination.

Both Sides Trade Blame

The case has become increasingly complex as both camps continue to accuse each other of orchestrating the violence.

Khan Sir maintains that the attack was planned by rivals, while the opposing side has rejected those claims and questioned the allegations against Anand.

Investigators are now relying on CCTV footage, witness statements and forensic reports to establish the sequence of events.

What Happens Next?

The court has sought the complete case diary and details of criminal records, if any, before taking a final view on Khan Sir's anticipatory bail plea.

Multiple hearings are scheduled later this month, with the court expected to examine fresh evidence and hear detailed arguments from both sides.

Until then, Khan Sir remains protected from arrest, while Raushan Anand continues in judicial custody, ensuring that one of Bihar's most talked-about coaching controversies remains far from over.

New Delhi: Popular educator and YouTuber Khan Sir, whose real name is Faisal Khan, has landed in fresh legal trouble after the Delhi High Court issued a notice to him and several others in a defamation case filed by senior journalist Anjana Om Kashyap.

The case stems from a heated controversy that erupted following a television debate on alleged NEET examination irregularities, where Kashyap reportedly commented on the growing influence of online "star teachers."

Defamation Battle Reaches High Court

Kashyap, Managing Editor of TV Today Network, alleged that after the May 29 debate, a coordinated online campaign was launched against her across social media platforms.

According to the suit, she was targeted with derogatory labels such as "bikau patrakar," "chatukar," and accusations of spreading fake news, resulting in reputational damage and concerns for her family's safety.

Seeking legal intervention, Kashyap has asked the court to direct the removal of the alleged defamatory content and award damages for the harm caused.

Court Sends Strong Message

During the hearing, lawyers representing some of the defendants argued that if posts targeting Kashyap were removed, her own remarks against educators should also be taken down.

However, Justice Neena Bansal Krishna observed that the law is clear when it comes to defamatory content.

"If it is prima facie derogatory, it has to be pulled down," the court orally remarked, emphasizing that freedom of expression does not extend to defamatory statements.

The court has issued notices to Khan Sir and other respondents but has not granted interim relief at this stage. The matter will now be heard on June 17.

Legal Heat Intensifies for Khan Sir

The High Court proceedings come at a time when Khan Sir is already facing legal scrutiny in Bihar.

An attempted murder case was recently registered against him following violence outside his Khan Global Studies coaching institute in Patna's Musallahpur area. Investigators allege that security personnel associated with the institute opened fire during clashes outside the coaching centre.

A Patna court, however, has directed that no coercive action be taken against Khan Sir until further orders.

18 Posts Under Scanner

In her petition, Kashyap has identified 18 social media posts that she claims are defamatory. Apart from individual social media users and coaching faculty members, an online news platform has also been named in the lawsuit.

The journalist argues that the online campaign caused serious damage to her reputation, dignity and personal security, prompting her to seek judicial intervention.

With notices now issued and multiple legal battles unfolding simultaneously, all eyes will be on the Delhi High Court's next hearing as the controversy surrounding Khan Sir continues to escalate.

In a major relief for parents across Punjab, the state government has initiated steps to introduce a stringent legal framework to regulate private school fees and prevent arbitrary fee hikes. State Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has directed the School Education Department to immediately draft legislation aimed at bringing greater accountability and transparency to the private education sector.

The proposed law will cap annual fee increases at 5 per cent, a move expected to benefit lakhs of families struggling with rising education costs. The initiative follows an announcement by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who described the proposed legislation as the country's toughest law against unjustified fee hikes by private schools.

One of the key provisions under consideration is a refund mechanism for parents. Schools that have raised fees beyond the prescribed limits during the past three years may be required to return the excess amount collected from students and guardians. The legislation is expected to cover nearly 7,800 private schools and more than 27 lakh students across the state.

Officials said the move is aimed at curbing the commercialisation of education and ensuring that educational institutions operate in the larger public interest. Emphasising the government's position, Bains stated that education is a public good and should not be treated as a profit-driven enterprise. He also referred to judicial observations that discourage profiteering in the education sector.

The proposed ordinance is expected to reverse provisions introduced in 2019 that allowed schools greater flexibility in increasing fees. The Education Department has been instructed to prepare a detailed proposal for Cabinet approval on priority. The government plans to introduce the legislation during the next Assembly session, strengthening oversight and ensuring affordable access to quality education for students across Punjab.

India's justice system is undergoing a significant transformation. From e-filing of cases and digital records to virtual hearings and live-streamed court proceedings, technology is reshaping how courts function. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, pushing the judiciary towards greater digitisation and accessibility. New court infrastructure, including plans for modern High Court buildings, reflects an institution seeking to adapt to the demands of a rapidly changing society.

Yet, while courts evolve, legal education often remains rooted in traditional methods. In many law schools, students continue to learn in classrooms organized around lectures, case law readings, and examinations that emphasize memorization and doctrinal analysis. Although these methods are important for understanding legal principles, they often fail to expose students to the lived realities of justice and the social contexts in which law operates.

The gap between legal education and legal practice is increasingly evident. Law is not merely a collection of statutes, precedents, and procedures; it is a tool that shapes people's lives. Issues such as access to justice, gender equality, labour rights, environmental protection, and digital privacy cannot be fully understood through textbooks alone. Future lawyers must learn how legal decisions affect individuals and communities, particularly those who are marginalized or excluded from formal legal systems.

Reforming legal education therefore becomes essential to any meaningful reform of the justice system. Law schools must move beyond classroom-centric learning and incorporate experiential approaches such as legal aid clinics, community engagement, field research, mediation exercises, and internships with courts, NGOs, and public institutions. Such experiences allow students to witness firsthand how law functions in society and where it often falls short.

Technology, too, should be integrated into legal training. As courts increasingly rely on digital platforms, future lawyers must be equipped with skills related to legal technology, data analysis, online dispute resolution, and digital ethics. Understanding these tools will be critical for effective advocacy in the modern legal landscape.

Ultimately, the goal of legal education should not be limited to producing competent professionals. It should cultivate lawyers who are empathetic, socially aware, and committed to justice. As India's courts modernize, law schools must also reimagine their role. Training lawyers to see justice as it is lived—not merely as it is written—will be essential in building a more accessible, responsive, and equitable legal system for the future.

The Allahabad High Court has granted interim relief to a school teacher accused in a case involving alleged insults to Hindu religious beliefs, staying his arrest while directing the Uttar Pradesh government to file its response within six weeks.

The case pertains to Bhisham Pal Singh, a teacher who was booked under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly being present at a gathering where remarks considered offensive to Hindu deities and religious symbols were reportedly made. The complaint was filed after a video of the meeting circulated on social media, triggering allegations that the statements had hurt religious sentiments and could disturb public harmony.

Challenging the FIR before the high court, Singh argued that he neither made any objectionable comments nor participated in any activity that could be construed as an insult to religion. His counsel maintained that the teacher was merely present at the event and had been wrongly implicated in the matter.

The petition further questioned the basis of the allegations and sought protection from coercive action during the course of the investigation. Singh's legal team also highlighted concerns regarding the credibility of the complaint and urged the court to examine the circumstances under which the case was registered.

Hearing the matter, a division bench comprising Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Prashant Kumar observed that the issues raised required further consideration. The court subsequently issued notices to the state authorities and directed them to submit their response within six weeks.

As an interim measure, the bench ordered that no coercive action, including arrest, be taken against the petitioner until the next date of hearing or until the submission of the police report, whichever is earlier. The protection, however, is subject to Singh cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.

The case has attracted attention amid wider debates on freedom of expression, religious sensitivities and the application of legal provisions governing speech-related offences. While the court's order provides temporary relief to the teacher, it does not amount to a determination on the merits of the allegations, which will be examined as the case proceeds.