New Delhi: The Supreme Court has stepped into a significant financial dispute between the Tamil Nadu government and the central government regarding the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta has issued a formal notice to the central government, directing it to respond within four weeks to Tamil Nadu’s Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging a Madras High Court order. The petition addresses the critical question of financial responsibility for funding education under the RTE Act, which reserves 25% of private school seats for economically disadvantaged students.
The legal proceedings began when Senior Advocate P Wilson, representing the State of Tamil Nadu, presented arguments before the apex court. Wilson contended that the Madras High Court had erred in its interpretation of financial responsibilities under the education act, particularly in its ruling that placed primary financial obligation solely on the state government for the 2025-2026 academic year. The Supreme Court’s intervention comes at a crucial time when admissions for the current academic year under the RTE quota have not yet commenced, potentially affecting thousands of underprivileged students across Tamil Nadu.
Concurrent Responsibility Argument Forms Core of TN’s Challenge
The Tamil Nadu government’s legal challenge rests on the principle of concurrent financial responsibility between central and state governments. Senior Advocate Wilson argued that the RTE Act establishes a shared funding mechanism between both levels of government, contrary to the Madras High Court’s interpretation that allegedly placed the entire burden on the state. The state’s counsel presented specific financial data showing that the central government had failed to release Rs 342.69 crore, representing its 60% share for the academic years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
Despite this substantial outstanding amount from the Centre, Wilson emphasized that the Tamil Nadu government had consistently covered the entire expenditure from its own resources to ensure uninterrupted education for disadvantaged students. The bench acknowledged that a separate suit filed by Tamil Nadu to recover these arrears remains pending. The state’s argument maintains that the High Court should have directed both governments to fulfill their respective financial obligations rather than placing the entire responsibility on the state administration.
Legal Proceedings and Implications for RTE Implementation
The case reached the Supreme Court through an appeal against the Madras High Court’s June 10 order, which originated from a petition filed by Easwaran. The High Court had directed the Tamil Nadu government to ensure timely payments to private schools while also instructing the central government to allocate necessary funds for Tamil Nadu. However, the state government appealed this decision, arguing that it unfairly shouldered the entire immediate financial burden while the Centre’s contribution remained outstanding.
The Supreme Court’s decision to issue notice and seek the central government’s response represents a significant development in this ongoing dispute. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the implementation of the RTE Act across India, particularly regarding the financial sharing mechanism between central and state governments. With the caveat petition filed by Easwaran ensuring that all sides will be heard, the matter is set for further hearing after the central government submits its response within the four-week deadline stipulated by the court.