New Delhi, March 6: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court urging the implementation of the three-language formula, proposed under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal.
The petition, filed by lawyer GS Mani, argues that the failure or refusal of these state governments to implement the NEP or sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) could harm public interest and infringe on citizens' rights.
The PIL requests that the Supreme Court direct the state governments to implement the NEP and sign an MoU, as the policy involves fundamental public welfare and the right to education, which are being neglected or violated. According to the petition, the state governments are constitutionally obligated to adopt the NEP and enter into an MoU to execute it.
"The state government is under a constitutional or legal obligation to implement the National Education Policy 2020 and to enter into an MoU for its execution," the petition stated.
The petition notes that all state governments, except for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal, have adopted the central government's tri-language curriculum policy. It describes the NEP as a crucial educational reform aimed at enhancing the quality of school education for students across all demographics.
The PIL also emphasizes that all Indian languages should be taught free of charge to schoolchildren from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, including those from scheduled tribes and backward classes.
The petition further asserts that the refusal by the governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal to accept the three-language formula is politically motivated, with claims of Hindi imposition being false.
It states that the central government’s laws, policies, and plans are applicable to all state governments, making it their duty to implement such policies. The PIL stresses that free education is a fundamental right under the Constitution, and by rejecting this plan, the state governments are denying children their right to education.
The petition calls on the Supreme Court to intervene and order the three state governments to immediately implement the National Education Policy.
(With agency inputs)
