Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu government has filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against the central government, alleging that funds amounting to ₹2,151 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme have been withheld as retaliation for the state’s refusal to implement the three-language formula recommended in the National Education Policy (NEP).
Centre accused of coercive federalism
In its petition, the MK Stalin-led DMK government claimed that the central government linked the disbursal of education funds to the state’s acceptance of the NEP, including the controversial three-language formula. Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the inclusion of Hindi as a mandatory language, advocating instead for a two-language policy involving Tamil and English.
“The Defendant by withholding the Plaintiff’s entitlement… seeks to coerce and force the Plaintiff State to implement NEP-2020 throughout the State,” the state submitted, adding that the move undermines the principle of cooperative federalism and encroaches upon the state’s constitutional right to legislate on education.
Project approval but no funds
Tamil Nadu stated that the Centre’s Project Approval Board under the Ministry of Education had approved an expenditure of ₹3,585.99 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme in a meeting held on February 16, 2023. Of this, ₹2,151 crore was the Centre’s committed share under the 60:40 funding formula and was due to be released from April 1, 2023.
However, the Centre has allegedly not released a single instalment of the sanctioned amount. The state argued that this delay is not administrative but punitive, linked to Tamil Nadu’s rejection of the NEP and its associated schemes like PM SHRI Schools.
Three-language formula at core of dispute
The three-language formula has remained a contentious issue between the Centre and several southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, which sees the policy as an attempt to promote Hindi. The Centre has denied this, claiming that the policy aims to rejuvenate Indian languages and improve linguistic diversity.
Fresh flashpoint after earlier SC win
The Supreme Court suit marks a new chapter in the ongoing tussle between Tamil Nadu and the Centre. It comes just a month after the state secured a legal victory when the Supreme Court ruled that Governor RN Ravi’s delay in assenting to 10 state bills was “illegal” and “arbitrary.”
