( 1 ) HEARD learned advocates S/shri P. S. Patel, C. L. Soni, Kamlesh Sheth and N. V. Gandhi for the petitioners. Learned advocate Shri Dipak Dave for learned advocate Shri A. D. Oza has appeared on caveat on behalf of the Gujarat Secondary Education Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board) whereas learned Assistant Government Pleaders Shri K. P. Raval, Ms. Shraddha Trivedi and Shri N. D. Gohil have appeared for the government authorities.

( 2 ) AS subject-matter in all these petitions is same, at the request of the learned advocates, all these petitions have been heard together. The facts giving rise to the present petitions are as under :

( 3 ) THE question involved in these petitions is with regard to change of stream after completion of Std. XI. As per the scheme of education framed by the Board, for the purpose of giving Higher Secondary Certificate, examinations are conducted in four different streams, which are as under : general Stream science Stream vocational Stream post Basic Stream

( 4 ) AFTER studying upto Std. X, a student has to select one of the aforementioned streams and a student has to study for 2 years in one stream so as to be eligible to take H