JUDGMENT

Madan B. Lokur, J.

1. The fundamental right to free and compulsory education to all children between the age of 6 and 14 years postulates good quality education and not just education for the sake of providing education. Regulation of such education is permissible by law and not by executive fiat. Unfortunately, in this batch of petitions, the State of Kerala seeks to impose its authority over schools that provide apparently quality education, which is perceived to be a threat to the public education system in the State.

2. The challenge by the State of Kerala in this batch of petitions is to the judgment and order dated 14th September, 2012 passed by a Division Bench of the High Court of Kerala. In our opinion, all these petitions deserve to be dismissed.

       Brief background

3. Without going into any great detail into the history (which is replete with litigation – as if schools have nothing better to do) leading up to these petitions, it needs to be said that the affiliation of schools by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is governed by its Affiliation Bye-laws. Clause 3(i) of the Bye-laws mandates formal prior recognition by the State/Union Territory G