On May 9, 2025, the Supreme Court of India firmly ruled that no court can force any state to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The decision came while dismissing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by petitioner G.S. Mani, who had asked the court to direct the Tamil Nadu government to adopt the NEP, including its “three-language formula.”

The bench, consisting of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, stated that the court has certain limits under Article 32 of the Constitution. While it can protect fundamental rights, it “cannot directly compel a State to adopt a policy like the National Education Policy 2020.”

Read Also:- Supreme Court Declares Rohingyas as Foreigners, Affirms Deportation Under Foreigners Act

"Whether the States should adopt the National Education Policy 2020 or not is a vexed issue. The Supreme Court, through Article 32, can issue directives to protect citizens' rights but cannot enforce the adoption of policies like NEP,” said the bench.

The Court clarified that it may only interfere if a State’s action or inaction under NEP violates any citizen’s fundamental rights. In this case, however, the Court saw no such violation.

Further, the bench expressed doubts about the petitioner's intention, noting that although he claimed to be from Tamil Nadu, he currently resides in New Delhi.

Read Also:- Valid District Survey Report Mandatory for Environmental Clearance; Draft or Lapsed DSR Not Acceptable: Supreme Court

“We believe that the petitioner has nothing to do with the cause he proposes to espouse,” the Court remarked, dismissing the petition.

The petitioner's argument was that due to Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Hindi in schools, he was unable to learn the language properly.

Justice Pardiwala replied humorously, “Then learn Hindi now in Delhi, na?”

Read Also:- Constitution Is Supreme, Not Parliament: Supreme Court Reiterates Judicial Review as a Constitutional Function

The court also pointed out that serious constitutional questions about NEP could be examined in other appropriate proceedings in the future, but not through this petition.

“The main issue may be examined by this Court in an appropriate proceeding,” the bench observed.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had recently reiterated the state’s stand against NEP 2020, claiming it tries to “impose Hindi through its three-language formula.”

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