- The bench said: 'We are not asking you to acquire land. We are only asking to identify.'
- Tamil Nadu's counsel Jaideep Gupta said federalism is part of the Constitution's basic structure.
- The Centre said it would bear construction costs; the next hearing is on 14 December 2026.
On 17 September 2026, a Supreme Court bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih gave Tamil Nadu three months to comply with a 15 December 2025 order to identify land for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, centrally run residential schools that the state says would bring in compulsory Hindi through the back door. Justice Nagarathna urged the state to drop an anti-Hindi 'mindset', saying states 'cannot act like individual countries'. Tamil Nadu said choosing a language is a fundamental right.
Claim by claim
The Madras High Court held in 2017 that Navodaya schools do not violate Tamil Nadu's Tamil learning law.
Hindustan Times reports the 2017 Madras High Court ruling in the background to the case.
Hindustan Times'There is an adamancy that Hindi must predominate.'
Said by Jaideep Gupta, senior advocate for Tamil NaduThe bench responded that Tamil as a second language 'can be considered'. The BJP says Navodaya rules allow Tamil as the medium of instruction in early classes.
Hindustan Times · DT NextWhat each side says
Said Hindi cannot be kept out of Tamil Nadu's soil, that 'we are ultimately a unitary form of government', and that people in Chennai should not alienate Delhi, while asking the state only to identify land.
The Hindu · Hindustan Times · Bar and BenchSays 'This is not a mindset issue': choosing languages is a fundamental right, India is a federal state, and Navodaya schools would conflict with its Tamil Learning Act, 2006.
The Hindu · India TodayAdditional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj said the state's only obligation is land; the Centre bears the cost of construction.
Hindustan TimesNot yet known
- ?What the court will do if Tamil Nadu has not identified land by 14 December 2026.
Sources
5 outlets across the spectrum. Leanings are a rough guide to who reported it, not a verdict on accuracy.
- The HinduNavodaya schools case: Supreme Court asks Tamil Nadu to drop anti-Hindi ‘mindset’; State says language is a fundamental right
- Hindustan Times‘Cannot be that Hindi won't be taught on Tamil Nadu's soil': SC remains firm on Navodaya school order
- DT NextTN must act now: BJP after SC order on Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas
- Bar and BenchChange mindset on Hindi; you can't alienate Delhi: Supreme Court to Tamil Nadu in Navodaya schools case
- India TodayHindi can’t be excluded from Tamil Nadu: Supreme Court on Navodaya schools
Spasht writes original summaries. Follow the links to read each outlet's own report. Revision 1.