M. M. DUTT, J:- This appeal has been preferred by the West Bengal Head Masters Association and the West Bengal Guardians Association against the judgment of a learned Judge of this Court whereby the learned Judge discharged the Rule Nisi issued on the application of the appellants under Art.226 of the Constitution. The question involved in this appeal is whether the revised History Syllabus for class VIII introduced by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, hereinafter referred to as the Board, with effect from January 1983 is valid or not.

2. According to the appellants, in the State of West Bengal, there are two types of schools - one under the Central Board of Education, New Delhi and the other under the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. The syllabi of the two groups are different, but both of them are in conformity with the syllabus as framed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training, hereinafter referred to as NCERT, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi. The History Syllabus for class VIII as prescribed or recommended by NCERT included, amongst others, the following:

"Unit 5. Rise of Indian