Joy Senior Secondary School Vs. Union of India - Court Judgment

Writ Petition No. 5452 Of  2013 26.3.2013 Shri Anshuman Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner.

Shri S. Beg, learned counsel for respondent No. 1.

Shri Kumaresh Pathak, learned Deputy Advocate General  for respondent Nos. 2 and 3, on advance notice.

Petitioner,   a   minority   educational   institution   vide   this  petition   calls   in   question   the   applicability   and   constitutional  validity of Sections, 3, 4, 5, 12 (1) (c), 12 (2), 13 (1), 13 (2) (b), 14,  15, 16 and 18 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory  Education Act, 2009 and seeks declaration that the provisions of  Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009  are not applicable to the Institution.

At the outset it is being stated at Bar that the controversy  as is raised in this case has been answered and settled at rest by  decision   rendered   by   Supreme   Court   in   Society   for   Unaided  Private   Schools   of   Rajasthan   v.

  Union   of   India   and   another  [(2012)   6   SCC   1].    In     Society   for   Unaided   Private   Schools   of  Rajasthan (supra) it has been held: “64.

Accordingly,   we   hold   that   the   Right   of  Children   to   Free   and   Compulsory   Education  Act, 2009 is constitutionally valid and shall apply  to the following: (i) a school established, owned or controlled  by the appropriate Government or a local  authority; (ii) an  aided school  including  aided  minority  school(s)   receiving   aid   or   grants   to   meet  whole   or   part   of   its   expenses   from   the  appropriate   Government   or   the   local  authority; (iii) a   school   belonging   to   specified   category;  and (iv) an   unaided   non­minority   school   not  receiving any kind of aid or grants to meet  its   expenses   from   the   appropriate  Government or the local authority.”

65. However,   the   said   2009   Act,   and   in  particular Sections 12 (1) (c) and 18 (3) infringes  the   fundamental   freedom   guaranteed   to  unaided   minority   schools   under   Article   30   (1)  and   consequently,   applying   the   R.M.D.  Chamarbaugwalla   v.  Union  of  India  (AIR  1957  SC 628) principle of severability, the said 2009  Act shall not apply to such schools.

65­A This judgment will operate from today.  In  other words, this will apply from academic year  2012­2013.

    However,   admissions   given   by  unaided   minority   schools   prior   to  pronouncement   of   this   judgment   shall   No.  be  reopened.”

As the controversy has been settled at rest and being the  law of Land the parties are bound by it.   No further directions  are warranted in the petition, which is hereby disposed of.

C.c. today.

(AJIT SINGH)  (SANJAY YADAV)        JUDGE JUDGE Vivek Tripathi