CHENNAI: Endorsing the stand taken by the Tamil Nadu government, former Supreme Court judge V Gopala Gowda on Thursday said the National Education Policy (NEP) is anti-people and runs contrary to the preamble of the Constitution.
“As a former judge of the Supreme Court of India, I completely endorse the stand taken by Tamil Nadu which said it won’t implement the NEP. I have read it. I understand it and agree with the opposition to the NEP as it opposes the ethos, cultural values, preamble and directive principles of the Constitution of India,” Justice Gowda said at a seminar organised by State Platform for Common School System.
“We have to test the NEP whether it encroaches upon the powers of state legislatures. If it does, then could the Union of India ask state governments to implement NEP? It is required to be very deeply considered by all political parties and people of the country keeping in view that India is a democratic republic,” he said.
Highlighting the federal structure envisaged in the Constitution, he said, “Each state is independent and state legislatures are empowered under Article 246 of the Constitution to enact laws under List II and III in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Parliament has got powers to enact laws. But, you must be very conscious of what entry the subject is. If you exceed your jurisdiction, according to the Constitution and judgments of the Supreme Court, that portion of the law must be simply ignored and must not affect the rights of the states at all.”
Pointing to the importance given to Sanskrit in the NEP, he said, “If you try to impose one language to be learned by implementing NEP, it means you are trying to deprive the right of education to all children. India is a multicultural, multi-linguistic, multi-religion country and it must be protected under the Constitution.”
“Tamil Nadu is the beginning of opposition by states to NEP, which is against fundamental rights and equality. I hope it inspires many more states. People of this country are strong enough to oppose anti-people, anti-democratic, anti-constitutional policy or law,” Justice Gowda said.
At the event, VCK leader and MP Thol Thirumavalavan, said, “Inequality is the spirit of sanatana dharma while the Constitution, manifesto of modern India, promotes equality, fraternity. Sanatana India was replaced by democratic India through the Constitution.” (Times Of India)
