SC refuses urgent hearing on TN's ₹2,151 cr education funds plea
text_fields
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant an urgent hearing to the Tamil Nadu government’s plea against the Union government for allegedly withholding over ₹2,151 crore in central education funds allocated under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme for the financial year 2024–2025.
A bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan noted that the matter lacked urgency and said it could be heard after the ongoing summer vacation, referred to by the bench as “partial working days.” The state government had filed the petition in May, alleging the Centre had withheld the sanctioned funds both for the current year and the previous year.
The petition, filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Tamil Nadu government, challenges the actions of the Union Ministry of Education under Article 131 of the Constitution. This Article provides exclusive jurisdiction to the Supreme Court to adjudicate disputes between the Centre and one or more states.
Tamil Nadu has accused the Centre of attempting to coerce the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Prime Minister Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) Scheme, both of which the state has strongly opposed—especially the contentious three-language formula outlined in the NEP.
The petition urged the court to declare that the NEP 2020 and PM SHRI Schools Scheme are not binding on the state unless a formal agreement is signed between the Centre and Tamil Nadu for their implementation. It further sought a declaration that the Centre’s move to link the release of Samagra Shiksha Scheme funds to the state’s implementation of NEP 2020 and the PM SHRI Scheme is unconstitutional, arbitrary, unreasonable, and illegal.
Tamil Nadu also challenged two specific communications from the Centre dated February 23, 2024, and March 7, 2024, seeking these to be declared null and void, and not binding on the state.
The plea demanded that the Centre be directed to disburse a total of ₹2,291.30 crore within a timeframe fixed by the Court, along with a future interest of 6 per cent per annum on the principal amount of ₹2,151.59 crore from May 1, 2025, until the realisation of the decree.
The dispute arises from the non-disbursement of central funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, a key centrally sponsored initiative aimed at improving and universalising quality school education. As per the petition, the Project Approval Board (PAB) of the Ministry of Education had approved a total outlay of ₹3,585.99 crore for Tamil Nadu for the 2024–25 financial year, of which the Centre's committed share was ₹2,151.59 crore.
Despite this approval, Tamil Nadu stated that not a single instalment has been released. The state contended that the Centre unilaterally linked the release of funds to Tamil Nadu’s full implementation of NEP 2020 and signing a memorandum of understanding for the PM SHRI Scheme—conditions that were not part of the original Samagra Shiksha Scheme and had not been agreed to by the state.
The plea emphasised the critical importance of timely fund disbursal for paying salaries to teachers and support staff. It argued that such payments are essential for maintaining a competent and motivated educational workforce, directly impacting the quality of education delivered to students and contributing to broader societal development by equipping future generations with vital skills and knowledge.
With PTI inputs
