Chennai:Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin is set to launch the State Education Policy (SEP) on Friday at the Anna Centenary Library Auditorium in Kotturpuram, Chennai.

This announcement comes as a strong step by the DMK-led state government, which has firmly opposed the National Education Policy (NEP) introduced by the central government.

The State Education Policy was drafted by a panel led by retired High Court Judge Justice D. Murugesan. The committee, formed by the state government, submitted its report in 2024. Since then, the policy has been waiting for formal release and implementation.

Tamil Nadu has long refused to implement the NEP, calling it an attack on social justice and a push to impose Hindi on the state. The government’s position has been clear and vocal, with regular protests and legal challenges against the central policy.

In May, the state approached the Supreme Court, claiming that nearly Rs 2,200 crore in central funds had been unfairly withheld because Tamil Nadu did not adopt the NEP. The petition argues that the central government has tied funds from the Samagra Shiksha Scheme to the implementation of the NEP and the PM SHRI Schools Scheme.

Legal plea against central conditions

The state’s petition calls this move by the Centre "unconstitutional, arbitrary, and illegal". It reads: "The glaring reason for such non-disbursement is that the Defendant has linked the release of Samagra Shiksha Scheme funds with the implementation of 'National Education Policy' and 'NEP exemplary PM SHRI Schools' Scheme, despite the fact that this policy / scheme are separate schemes. That the reason of such apparent linkage is the fact that the MoU pertaining to the PM SHRI Schools Scheme dictates for implementation of the NEP-2020 in the Plaintiff State (Tamil Nadu) in its entirety which is not agreeable to the Plaintiff State due to the vociferous opposition to the Clause 4.13 of the NEP-2020 which envisages three-language formula."

Tamil Nadu is demanding Rs 2,291.30 crore from the Centre, along with 6 percent annual interest on Rs 2,151.59 crore from May 1st, until full payment is made.

The state is also asking the court to direct the central government to release its 60 percent share of education funding on time, as required under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, before every academic year.

With ANI inputs