TN Moves SC Against Centre Over 'Coercion' To Adopt NEP

Tamil Nadu has moved the Supreme Court against the Union government's withholding of ₹2,151 crore under a centrally-sponsored education scheme, alleging it was done to "coerce" and "force" the state to implement the National Education Policy (NEP).

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELHI:

In a suit filed on Tuesday, the state sought release of funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme (SSS) for 2024-25. It said the funds were withheld due to the state's refusal to adopt the NEP and opposition to the three-language policy, which includes Hindi.

"The defendant by withholding the plaintiff's entitlement to receive funds under the SSS is an ignorance of the doctrine of co-operative federalism, usurpation of the Constitutional power of the plaintiff State to legislate under Entry 25, List III and seeks to coerce and force the plaintiff State to implement the NEP-2020 throughout the state in its entirety and to deviate from the education regime followed in the plaintiff state."

Chief minister MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government has maintained that the Union government has sought to link the release of funds to the acceptance of the NEP and another central scheme, PM SHRI Schools.