Supreme Court Declines PIL on Tri-Language NEP Implementation

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that urged the implementation of the three-language formula, part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal. The bench, led by Justice JB Pardiwala, stated that the court does not have the authority to direct states to adopt a policy like the NEP 2020.

The court explained that while it cannot compel a state to enforce the NEP, it may intervene if state actions or inactions contravene fundamental rights. The bench concluded that the petitioner lacked a direct connection to the cause, as he resides in New Delhi despite being originally from Tamil Nadu. Consequently, the petition was dismissed. BJP lawyer GS Mani, who filed the plea, argued that the states' refusal to implement the NEP or sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the central government undermines public interest and violates citizens' rights.

The petition argued that the NEP is vital for enhancing the quality of education nationwide and claimed that all Indian languages should be taught free of charge to students from marginalized groups. The non-cooperation from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal was attributed to political motivations, alleging that the policy's opposition was based on fear of Hindi imposition. The Centre defended the NEP as promoting multilingualism, while Tamil Nadu accused it of pressuring non-Hindi-speaking states.

(With inputs from agencies.)