New Delhi [India], May 21 (HBTV): The Tamil Nadu government has filed a petition before the Supreme Court against the Government of India for allegedly withholding funds after the state opted not to implement the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.

In the petition, the Tamil Nadu government has sought the release of over INR 2,000 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. The state has requested the Supreme Court to set a timeframe for the release of the funds and to direct the Centre to pay interest at 6 per cent per annum on the withheld principal amount.

The petition also urges the Supreme Court to declare the Union Government’s action of withholding funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme as ‘unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary and unreasonable’.

Led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, the state government has also asked the apex court to declare that the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 and the PM SHRI Schools Scheme are not binding on the state of Tamil Nadu.

The DMK-led government has further sought a direction for the Union Government to fulfil its statutory obligations by disbursing grants-in-aid for implementing provisions under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2010. This includes the Centre’s 60 per cent share of expenditure, which the petition states must be paid before the start of each academic year and within a defined timeframe.

Previously, CM Stalin had announced that the state would approach the Supreme Court to secure funds from the Centre, alleging that the Union Government is attempting to promote Hindi through the NEP, despite Tamil Nadu's long-standing opposition to such moves.

The Tamil Nadu government has consistently opposed the implementation of the NEP, raising concerns about the three-language formula and accusing the Centre of attempting to ‘impose’ Hindi.

Earlier, the Supreme Court dismissed a PIL that sought the enforcement of the three-language formula, as proposed by the NEP 2020, in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal. A bench led by Justice J. B. Pardiwala refused to entertain the plea, observing that the court cannot compel a state to adopt a policy such as the NEP 2020.

‘The court cannot directly compel a state to adopt a policy like the National Education Policy 2020. The court may, however, intervene if a state's action or inaction related to the National Education Policy violates any fundamental rights. We do not propose to examine this issue in this writ petition. We believe that the petitioner has nothing to do with the cause he proposes to espouse. Although he may be from the state of Tamil Nadu, yet on his own admission, he is residing in New Delhi. In such circumstances, this petition stands dismissed,’ the bench stated.

(ANI)