The Supreme Court denied an urgent hearing for Tamil Nadu’s lawsuit against the Centre over Rs 2291 crore in educational funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, citing no urgency. The case highlights tensions over NEP 2020 and PM SHRI Schools implementation.

Supreme Court Denies Urgent Hearing in Tamil Nadu vs Centre Education Funds Dispute

On June 9, 2025, the Supreme Court of India declined an urgent listing of a lawsuit filed by the Tamil Nadu Government against the Central Government of India. The suit demands the release of over Rs 2291 crore under the centrally-sponsored Samagra Shiksha Scheme (SSS).

Key Judges Cite Lack of Urgency

A bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Manmohan declined to list the case during the court’s partial working days. The judges maintained that there was no immediate urgency in the matter, despite pleas from Senior Advocate P. Wilson, who stressed that the fund delay was affecting around 48 lakh students across government schools in Tamil Nadu.

Impact on Students and the New Academic Year

According to Wilson, the absence of funds is jeopardizing the implementation of the Right to Education Act in Tamil Nadu. The academic year had already begun on June 3, and the lack of financial support was impeding basic infrastructure and learning services in schools.

When questioned by the bench on the timing of the issue, it was revealed that the State filed the suit on May 20, 2025, following non-allocation of the funds during the previous academic year.

Centre’s Withholding Tied to NEP 2020 and PM SHRI Implementation

Tamil Nadu alleges that the Centre is withholding funds because the state has not implemented the National Education Policy 2020 and the PM SHRI Schools initiative.

Under Article 131 of the Constitution, Tamil Nadu’s original suit seeks a judicial directive mandating the Central Government to release the Rs 2291 crore plus interest.

Constitutional Challenge to Conditional Funding

The lawsuit also includes a demand for a formal declaration stating that linking the release of Samagra Shiksha Scheme funds to the implementation of NEP 2020 and PM SHRI Schools is “unconstitutional, illegal, unreasonable, and arbitrary.” Tamil Nadu argues that such conditional funding undermines cooperative federalism and adversely affects millions of students.