'Court Can't Compel Any State To Adopt National Education Policy' : Supreme Court Dismisses Plea To Implement NEP In Tamil Nadu

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation filed by a person seeking to direct the State of Tamil Nadu to implement the National Education Policy (2020) including its 'three-language formula'.

A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan observed that the Court cannot issue any direction under Article 32 of the Constitution to compel any State to adopt the NEP.

Dismissing the petition filed by one GS Mani, the Court said :

"Whether the States should adopt the National Education Policy 2020 or not is a vexed issue. The Supreme Court, through Article 32 of the Constitution, can issue directives to ensure that the rights of the citizens are protected. It cannot directly compel a State to adopt a policy like the National Education Policy 2020. The Court may, however, intervene if a State's action or inaction related to the National Education Policy violates any fundamental rights. We do not propose to examine this issue in this writ petition. We believe that the petitioner has nothing to do with the cause he proposes to espouse. Although he may be from the State of Tamil Nadu, yet on his own admission, he is residing in New Delhi. In such circumstances, this petition stands dismissed."

The bench also added that the "main issue may be examined by the Court in an appropriate proceeding."

As soon as the matter was taken, the bench asked the petitioner, who was appearing in person, "Who are you? How are you concerned with the National Education Policy?".

The petitioner, saying that he is from Tamil Nadu and is now settled in Delhi, said that because of "this kind of policy" (Tamil Nadu schools not teaching Hindi), he could not learn Hindi easily.

"Then learn Hindi now in Delhi, na?" Justice Pardiwala told the petitioner.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recently said that the NEP 2020 will not be implemented in the State, saying that its three-language formula was an attempt to impose Hindi.

Case : G.S. MANI vs Government of Tamil Nadu and others | W.P.(C) No. 260/2025

Citation : 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 572

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