Kerala is gearing up for legal action against the Union government over the non-release of ₹1,466 crore in central funds for Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) since the second half of the 2023-24 academic year. Senior education officials are set to meet Advocate General K Gopalakrishna Kurup on Thursday to finalize the legal strategy, sources confirmed.

The fund freeze, allegedly tied to Kerala’s refusal to fully implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and its PM-SHRI scheme, has stalled critical educational programs. “No official reason was provided, but unofficial communications suggest the delay is due to non-compliance with NEP,” a top education official told TNIE. The PM-SHRI scheme, which promotes NEP’s goals, requires states to sign an MoU, which Kerala has resisted, citing concerns over central control and the three-language formula.

The funding crunch has disrupted textbook and uniform distribution, travel allowances, and orthopaedic equipment for students with disabilities. “Inclusive education, vocational projects, and learning enhancement activities are severely impacted,” said SSK state project director Supriya A R. Salaries for SSK staff are also at risk, with the state relying on its own funds and local self-government support to sustain basic operations like therapy for autistic children.

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Kerala, which typically receives 60% of SSK funds from the Centre, argues that its education system already meets high standards, with 40,000 smart classrooms equipped over the past nine years. The state views the withholding of funds as a coercive tactic undermining cooperative federalism. A parliamentary panel in March 2025 deemed the linkage of SSK funds to PM-SHRI “unjustifiable,” noting that the Right to Education Act, a statutory mandate, takes precedence over NEP, an executive policy.

With the state’s financial constraints exacerbating the crisis, officials have approached the finance minister for additional funds to cover salaries. Kerala’s move to the Supreme Court follows Tamil Nadu’s similar suit, which seeks ₹2,291 crore and challenges the Centre’s linkage of SSK funds to NEP compliance.

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