( 1 ) THIS is a writ petition whereby the petitioners challenge the vires of Rule 37 of the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973 (for short the Rules ) more particularly sub- rules (1) (a) (ii), l (b) (ii) and (iii) and (4) (a) to (e) thereof.

( 2 ) THE first petitioner is a parents forum which is registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. The second petitioner Smt. Kusum Jain is its President. The petitioners have moved this writ petition by way of public interest litigation seek- ing inter alia banning of corporal punishment to students in schools. Though in the , petition the petitioners also challenges sub-rule (l) (b) and l (iii) of Rule 37 of the Rules, which provide for expulsion and rustication of a student from school, at the time of hearing, however, the learned counsel for the petitioners only advanced arguments relating to the vires of the provisions dealing with corporal punishment. At this stage it will be convenient to set out Rule 37 which reads as under:-

"rule 37. Forms of disciplinary measures- (1) The following shall be the disciplinary measures which may be adopted by a school in dealing with - (a) all students - (i) detention duri