A Supreme Court lawyer on Thursday (March 6, 2025) moved the top court to direct the Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal governments to implement the National Education Policy (NEP), amid a raging debate spearheaded by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who has accused the Centre of imposition of Hindi on the State.
Advocate G.S. Mani argued that the three States must act to protect the fundamental right to education of children by signing the memorandum of understanding with the Centre to implement the NEP.
‘Politically motivated’
Mr. Mani claimed that the word ‘Hindi’ was mentioned only once in the NEP. “Nowhere in the entire policy is it said Hindi is imposed or State governments are compelled to teach Hindi to children… But the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu said that the NEP undermines social justice, attacks Tamil language, and is against the interests of the Tamil people and Tamil Nadu,” the petition said.
The plea said the view taken by the Tamil Nadu government and Mr. Stalin was “politically motivated”.
The petition argued that the Centre, like the State, had a stake in education. The subject matter of education was part of the Concurrent List of the Constitution, it contended.
While noting that the Supreme Court did not have the power directly to compel a State to accept a policy or sign a memorandum of understanding, it could intervene if fundamental rights were involved.
Published – March 06, 2025 09:08 pm IST
