Chennai, Dec 2 (LatestNewsX) – The Tamil Nadu BJP is demanding the immediate opening of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in the state, following a forceful direction from the Supreme Court that urged both the state and central governments to genuinely engage on this long‑standing issue.
A Division Bench, composed of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan, has set the next hearing for December 15, signalling that the court is expecting tangible movement.
In a statement, BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad highlighted that the Apex Court’s observation left “no room for excuses” and underscored that the constitutional right to quality education under Article 21A must not be set aside for political considerations.
The dispute traces back to 2017, when the Madras High Court ordered the Tamil Nadu government to provide land and infrastructure for a fully operational JNV in every district. The ruling, initially hailed as a major step toward educational equity, was later stayed on procedural grounds.
“Eight years later, Tamil Nadu remains the only state without a single JNV, denying 1.2 crore rural children access to a world‑class, completely free residential education,” Prasad said.
He dismissed the state’s long‑standing concerns about the “two‑language policy” and alleged “Hindi imposition.” Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti guidelines clearly permit Tamil as the medium of instruction up to Class VIII, as the first language in Classes IX and X, and as an optional subject in higher secondary classes.
Prasad noted that Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh together host more than 30 JNVs while preserving their linguistic identity.
Drawing on national data, he pointed out that 662 JNVs are currently operational across India, each consistently posting a 100 % pass rate in CBSE examinations. These schools offer 75 % reservation for rural students, 33 % for girls, and additional weightage for SC/ST candidates, making them “India’s most successful model for social mobility.”
He stressed that under the Concurrent List, the Union Government is empowered to establish and fund JNVs, while the state’s role is simply to allocate 10–15 acres of land and provide basic infrastructure—an obligation met by every other state.
Calling the situation a test of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s commitment to social justice, Prasad urged the government to set up a high‑level committee within seven days, identify land parcels in at least ten educationally backward districts, and submit a detailed action‑taken report to the Supreme Court by December 15.
“Let history record that Tamil Nadu chose its children’s future over political ego,” he added.
aal/svn
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