Compulsory Telugu: HC takes note of govt submission to extend exemption for Class IX students

The observation came during the hearing of a PIL, challenging the government’s decision to make Telugu a mandatory second language for students of CBSE, ICSE, IB, Cambridge, and other national boards

Hyderabad: Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin of the Telangana High Court on Monday took note of the State government’s submission that it is considering extending exemption to students of Class IX from the compulsory Telugu requirement for the current academic year.

The observation came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by Pramila Pathak, challenging the Government’s decision to make Telugu a mandatory second language for students of CBSE, ICSE, IB, Cambridge, and other national boards from Classes II to IX under various government orders and memos issued in December 2024. The petitioner contended that the move is abrupt, arbitrary, and contrary to the Telangana (Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Telugu in Schools) Act, 2018. It was brought to the court’s notice that the State had earlier granted exemptions for Classes IX and X during the 2022–23 and 2023–24 academic years, and again extended the same for Class X students for 2025–26.

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The government is now contemplating similar relief for Class IX students. The Bench also noted that a related writ petition filed by students of a private management school is pending before a single Judge, where an interim order has already been passed. Observing that there is no immediate urgency, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing after six weeks.