Wilson requested the top court for an urgent hearing on the ground that the constitutional right to free and compulsory education of nearly 48 lakh students in the state is being adversely impacted due to the withholding of the fund. The court, however, declined urgent hearing.

The top court also took note of the fact that the state government filed the petition in May alleging withholding of central funds for 2024 and this year also. The petition filed by the TN government under Article 131 of the Constitution pleaded to the court to declare that neither the National Education Policy (NEP) nor the PM SHRI Schools Scheme is binding on Tamil Nadu unless a formal agreement is reached.

The TN government also sought a declaration that the centre’s communications dated February 23 and March 7, 2024, which allegedly link fund release to policy implementation, were illegal, void ab initio, and unenforceable against the state. The TN government’s suit challenges the alleged conditional release of funds based on the implementation of the NEP 2020 and the PM SHRI Schools Scheme.