HC dismisses plea for uniform syllabus for children

The Delhi High Court today dismissed a plea seeking a uniform curriculum for all children aged between 6 and 14 years across India.

Terming the plea as not maintainable, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra said this court has no competence to decide whether "History should be taught or Sanskrit".

"The prayer sought by the petitioner cannot be granted by this court," the bench said, adding that he can approach the authorities and make a representation in this regard.

"The respondent will take a considerable view in accordance with the law," the bench added.
 

Petitioner advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay had approached the court, seeking a direction to the Centre "to provide an authoritative textbook on 'Environment, Health and Safety' and 'Socialism, Secularism and Nationalism' for children aged 6-14 years and a standard textbook having chapters on fundamental rights, fundamental duties, directives principles and the golden goals as set out in the Preamble..."

He had sought a uniform syllabus, saying discrimination in quality of education violates Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution.

His plea had claimed that the prevailing education system under Article 21A of the Constitution was "inconsistent".

"Right to Education under Article 21A has to be read in conformity with Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution. There must be no discrimination in quality of education," it said.

"The right of a child should not be restricted only to free and compulsory education, but should be extended to have equal quality education without any discrimination on the ground of a child's social economic and cultural background. Thus, a common syllabus and common curriculum is required," it had said.

The children should also be provided value-based uniform education, the plea had said.

"Uniform education system would ultimately eliminate disparity and discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth and lead to equality of status and of opportunity in all matters in the spirit of the Preamble of the Constitution," the plea had said.