The State accuses the Union government of coercive federal overreach by linking the disbursal of funds to its acceptance of the National Education Policy
NEW DELHI – The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court, accusing the Central government of illegally withholding ₹2,291 crore in education funds. The state alleged that the Centre was using financial pressure to get the states to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and related schemes such as PM SHRI Schools.
The Tamil Nadu government filed the case directly in the Supreme Court under Article 131 of the Constitution against the Central government for withholding education funds meant for the state, media reports said.
The Tamil Nadu government seeks release of the education funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme (SSS) for the 2024–25 financial year, a dispute stemming from the state’s refusal to adopt the three-language policy, which includes Hindi.
The state accuses the Union government of coercive federal overreach by linking the disbursal of funds to its acceptance of the NEP.
“Such coercive tactics are neither legally permissible nor consistent with State legislation, particularly in light of the two-language formula adopted by the State,” the suit filed through advocate Sabarish Subramanian reads.
The total suit claim is ₹2291.3 crores, inclusive of 6 percent interest on the principal amount.
The suit contends that the Centre’s withholding of its “obligatory share” under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme has crippled the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) and the constitutional rights of over 43.94 lakh students, 2.21 lakh teachers and 32,701 school staff in Tamil Nadu.
According to the state, the Project Approval Board (PAB) of the Ministry of Education had approved ₹3,585.99 crore for Tamil Nadu under the SSS in its February 2024 meeting, of which ₹2,151.59 crore was the Centre’s share based on the 60:40 cost-sharing formula.
However, it has been alleged that not a single instalment has been released so far due to Tamil Nadu’s refusal to fully adopt NEP 2020 and sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the PM SHRI Schools scheme.
The Centre’s insistence on enforcing NEP 2020 is an attempt to bypass laws enacted by the Tamil Nadu legislature, particularly the Tamil Nadu Uniform System of School Education Act, 2010, and impose a uniform education policy without legal or constitutional basis, the state government has alleged.
