Hello friends, Education is the basic right of every student, but when politics starts dominating the policies, the future of the students is in danger. Recently, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court, demanding the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal. The petition states that by not adopting the NEP by these states, the students there are being deprived of the modern education system.
Debate on Imposing Hindi
This petition has come at a time when there is a continuous debate about the Hindi language in Tamil Nadu. State Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has openly opposed the three-language formula included in the NEP. Only Tamil and English are taught in schools in the state, while under the NEP, students have been given the option to choose a third language. The petitioner, Advocate G.S. Mani, who himself is from Tamil Nadu, has called it a politically motivated and arbitrary decision.
Is Hindi being imposed?
The Tamil Nadu government argues that Hindi is being forcibly imposed through the NEP, but this claim has been termed wrong in the petition. It states that the NEP does not make any language compulsory, but it gives the students the option of multilingual education. The petitioner argued that this policy is beneficial for the future of the students and it is mandatory for the states to implement it under the Constitution.
Supreme Court response and way forward
The petition states that the Supreme Court cannot directly order the states to adopt any policy, but if a state is violating constitutional provisions, the court can intervene. The court will have to decide whether the non-adoption of NEP by these states is a violation of constitutional and legal provisions. On this issue, the Supreme Court has issued notices to the concerned state governments and sought a response. The court will now examine whether Tamil Nadu and other states are making the right decision keeping in mind the future of the students or are stopping the NEP only for political reasons.
Education is not just a part of a policy but the key to every student’s bright future. It will be interesting to see what the Supreme Court decides in this case. If the court directs the states to adopt NEP, it will positively impact the future of lakhs of students. But if this matter gets embroiled in political debates, the biggest losers will be the students.
Disclaimer: This article is written for informational purposes only. The arguments and views expressed in it are based on various sources. Please check the relevant official sources before making any legal or policy decisions.
Also Read:
Evolution and Scope of Administrative Law
Supreme Court Slams Overpriced Lawyers: Justice Must Be Accessible to All
