Rather than Navodaya schools, cooperate in running existing model schools, TN tells Centre in SC

The Tamil Nadu government has submitted in the Supreme Court that the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme is “fundamentally incompatible” with the two-language policy followed by the State.

The State, represented by senior advocate P. Wilson and advocate Sabarish Subramanium, in an affidavit said the three-language formula navodaya scheme would necessarily require deviation from the mandate of the Tamil Nadu Tamil Learning Act, 2006.

“Such deviation would be impermissible in law and contrary to the settled legislative framework of the State,” the affidavit said.

The three-language formula is considered as a core pedagogical and administrative framework of the scheme. It required compulsory instruction in Hindi, English, and the mother tongue/regional language.

Tamil Nadu government has maintained that the imposition of the scheme was a “backdoor” ploy to make Hindi compulsory.

The State said the stated objectives of the navodaya were already well-established in Tamil Nadu, which included providing quality residential education to meritorious students from rural and economically weaker sections.

It said the State had established 38 model residential schools in every district at a capital expense each of ₹50 crore. The operations and maintenance of all 38 residential schools was approximately ₹210 crore, borne entirely by the State government.

The State said, it had met with Centre’s representatives in January 2026, to urge the Union government to give financial support for the schools in order to avoid duplication of institutions, to preserve State legislative autonomy and achieve national educational objectives through existing infrastructure.

The affidavit highlighted the non-release of the approved Central share under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme.

It said the total Central share approved under Samagra Shiksha amounts to ₹13,998.82 crore for the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26.

“Out of this approved amount, only ₹450.60 crore under Right to Education entitlements has been released by the Government of lndia. This has resulted in a pending amount of ₹3,548.22 crore… These funds are required for payment of teachers’ salaries, infrastructure maintenance, student welfare programmes and other essential educational activities. Delays in release place significant financial strain on the State,” the affidavit said.