NEP Row: Tamil Nadu Moves Supreme Court Over Withheld Central Funds
State demands release of ₹2,000 crore under Samagra Shiksha Scheme; calls Centre’s action “unconstitutional” over refusal to adopt NEP 2020
The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court against the Centre for allegedly withholding over ₹2,000 crore in funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme following the state’s refusal to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
In a petition filed before the apex court, the state government has sought the release of the pending funds along with 6% annual interest on the principal amount. It has also urged the court to fix a timeframe for the release of the funds and to declare the Centre’s action as “unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary and unreasonable.”
The MK Stalin-led government has reiterated its opposition to the NEP and requested a judicial declaration that both the NEP 2020 and PM SHRI Schools Scheme are not binding on Tamil Nadu.
The state’s petition contends that the Union Government’s withholding of funds under the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha Scheme amounts to coercion for the implementation of the NEP — a move Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed. The petition argues that the Centre’s actions violate the constitutional framework and federal principles.
The state has also demanded that the Centre continue its statutory obligation of funding education under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2010. This includes providing its 60% share of the expenditure before every academic year.
Tamil Nadu has been vocal in its opposition to the NEP, especially objecting to the three-language formula which the state alleges promotes “Hindi imposition.” The DMK-led government argues that such policies threaten the state’s linguistic and cultural identity.
Chief Minister MK Stalin had earlier announced that the government would approach the Supreme Court to secure funding for the state’s education initiatives, irrespective of its stance on NEP.
In a related development earlier this year, the Supreme Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to enforce the NEP’s three-language policy in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal. The bench, headed by Justice JB Pardiwala, ruled that courts cannot compel states to adopt such policies and only intervene if fundamental rights are violated.
What the Petition Demands
- Immediate release of over ₹2,000 crore withheld under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme
- Declaration that the Union’s action is unconstitutional
- Judicial ruling that NEP 2020 and PM SHRI are not binding on states
- 6% annual interest on the withheld sum
- Timely disbursal of Centre’s 60% share for education under the RTE Act
As of now, the central government has not issued an official response to the petition. However, officials in the Ministry of Education have previously maintained that the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes like PM SHRI requires adherence to guidelines, including those linked to NEP.
The NEP 2020, introduced by the Modi government, aims to overhaul the Indian education system by promoting holistic learning, vocational training, and multilingual education. Tamil Nadu, known for its strong anti-Hindi stance dating back to the 1960s, has remained a stronghold of resistance to the policy.
