Supreme Court Dismisses Plea To Enforce NEP 2020 In Non-Compliant States

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the implementation of the three-language formula outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal.

Supreme Court Rejects Plea To Adopt NEP

A bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala ruled that the court cannot compel any state to adopt the NEP 2020. The court clarified that judicial intervention is only possible if a state’s actions or inactions under the NEP violate fundamental rights.

“The court cannot directly compel a state to adopt a policy like the National Education Policy 2020,” the bench stated in its order.

It further added, “We believe the petitioner has no direct involvement in the matter. Although he is from Tamil Nadu, he resides in New Delhi. In this context, the petition stands dismissed.”

BJP Lawyer Files PIL Seeking NEP Enforcement

BJP-affiliated lawyer GS Mani filed the PIL, arguing that the refusal or failure of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal to implement the NEP and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) harmed public interest and violated citizens’ educational rights.

Mani claimed that all other states had adopted the NEP and accused the three states of political bias against the three-language formula, which includes Hindi.

“The state government is under a constitutional obligation to implement the Central government’s National Education Policy and sign an MOU to carry out its provisions,” the petition read.

Petition Highlights Multilingual Benefits Of NEP

In the PIL, Mani emphasised the NEP’s goal of providing equitable education across India, particularly to underprivileged groups.

He stated that the policy’s multilingual approach could benefit students from backwards, tribal, and marginalised communities.

The petition argued that denying the three language formulas violated the constitutional right to free education and urged the court to direct the three state governments to adopt the policy immediately.

States Push Back Against Perceived Hindi Imposition

Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal have strongly resisted the NEP, alleging that the policy attempts to impose Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking states.

Tamil Nadu, in particular, has a long history of opposing such language policies.

While the Centre defended the NEP as a move toward multilingualism and national integration, Tamil Nadu accused it of being a covert attempt to promote Hindi, calling the policy unfair to southern and eastern states.

Also Read: Court Defers Hearing In National Herald Case On May 21; Sonia, Rahul Gandhi Served Chargesheet