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MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT
Prakash Shrivastava, J.
The Daly College, Indore v. State of M.P. and others
Writ Petition No.10546 of 2013 (Indore); Decided on 18.12.2014.
The first issue which has been raised by counsel for the petitioners is about the applicability of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (for short “RTE Act”) to pre-school classes i.e. Nursery, KG-1, KG-2 etc.
Held : Undisputedly all the writ petitioner schools before this Court are covered within the meaning of school as defined in section 2(n)(iv) of the Act.
Since the proviso to section 12 is clearly worded and in terms of the said proviso, the provisions of section 12(1) (c) of the Act has been made applicable to admission to pre-school education being imparted by unaided school specified in section 2(n)(iv), therefore, the argument of the counsel for the petitioners that RTE Act is not applicable to pre-school education, has no merit and deserves to be rejected.
The above Circular has apparently been issued by the State Government to implement the provisions contained in proviso to section 12 of the Act and to discharge its obligation under section 11 of the Act. The above circular does not run counter to proviso to section 12 read with section 12(1)(c), therefore, the petitioners’ challenge to the above circular has no merit. The petitioners have failed to demonstrate as to how the above Circular is beyond the provisions of the Act or is without jurisdiction. (2012)6 SCC 1, (2012)6 SCC 102 and (2014)8 SCC 1 followed.
(2) Constitution of India -- Arts.21A and 45 -- Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 -- S.12, proviso -- fundamental right to education to all children of age 6 to 14 years -- meaning of -- under proviso to section 12 -- specified children below 6 years also have legal right to such admission. [Para 20
(3) Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 -- Ss.6 and 12(1)(c) -- if within three years from commencement of Act -- schools not established by State -- after expiry of three years -- effect of provisions of section 12 not ceased. [Para 26
(4) Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 -- S.12(1)(c) -- provisions under -- for admission to extent of 25% strength of class -- also apply in all per school classes be it per KG, KG-1 and KG-2. [Para 27
(5) Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 -- S.12(1)(c) -- M.P. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 -- Rr.2(1)(k) and 2(1)(h) -- limits of neighbourhood prescribed for class 1 under rule 2(1)(k) -- means of -- extended limit under rule 2(1)(h) -- becomes applicable for pre-school admission also. [Paras 33 to 35
(6) Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 -- S.12(2) -- provision for reimbursement of expenditure incurred by school -- provided under rule 12(2) -- contention that there is no such provision -- is meritless. [Paras 36 & 37
¼1½ fu%’kqYd vkSj vfuok;Z cky f’k{kk dk vf/kdkj vf/kfu;e] 2009 & /kkjk 1¼2½] 2¼x½] 2¼<½] [kaM ¼pkj½ rFkk 12¼1½¼x½ & e-iz- fu%’kqYd vkSj vfuok;Z cky f’k{kk dk vf/kdkj fu;e] 2011 & fu-1¼2½] 11 rFkk 21 & vf/kfu;e ds mica/kksa dk ykxw gksuk & vuqnku izkIr u djus okys fo|ky; & detksj oxZ vkSj vlqfo/kkxzLr lewg ds 25 izfr’kr fo|kfFkZ;ksa ds izos’k ds fy, & e-iz- ljdkj }kjk ifji= tkjh fd;k x;k & ,sls fo|ky;] fo|ky; ds vfHkizk;% esa lekfo”V gSa & ,sls fo|ky;ksa dks vf/kfu;e ds mica/k ykxw gksrs gSaA
;kphx.k ds fo}ku dkmUlsy us izFke fook|d fu%’kqYd vkSj vfuok;Z cky f’k{kk dk vf/kdkj vf/kfu;e] 2009 ¼laf{kIr esa vkj-Vh-bZ- ,DV½ ds mica/kksa dk fo|ky; dh d{kkvksa vFkk~Zr ulZjh] dsth&1] dsth&2 vkfn ls ykxw gksus ds fo”k; esa mBk;k gSA
vfHkfu/kkZfjr % fufoZokfnr :i ls bl U;k;ky; ds le{k leLr fjV ;kpd fo|ky;] fo|ky; ds vfHkizk;% esa lekfo”V gSa] tSlk fd vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 2¼<½¼pkj½ esa ikfjHkkf”kr gSA
pawfd /kkjk 12 dk ijarqd Li”Vr% O;Dr djrk gS vkSj mi;qZDr ijarqd ds fuca/kuksa esa] /kkjk 12¼1½¼x½ ds mica/k /kkjk 2 ds [kaM ¼<½ ds mica/k ¼pkj½ esa fofufnZ”V vuqnku izkIr djus okys fo|ky; }kjk izkFkfed f’k{kk miyC/k djkus okys fo|ky; esa izos’k nsus ds fy, ykxw fd, x, gSa] blfy,] ;kphx.k ds dkmUlsy dk rdZ fd fu%’kqYd vkSj vfuok;Z cky f’k{kk dk vf/kdkj vf/kfu;e izkFkfed f’k{kk fo|ky; dks ykxw ugha gksrk gS] xq.kkxq.k jfgr gS vkSj [kkfjt djus ;ksX; gSA
vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 12 esa varfoZ”V mica/kksa dks dk;kZafor djus vkSj vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 11 ds v/khu vius nkf;Ro dk fuoZgu djus ds fy, jkT; ljdkj }kjk mi;qZDr ifji= tkjh fd;k x;k gSA mi;qZDr ifji= /kkjk 12 ds ijarqd ds lkFk ifBr /kkjk 12¼d½¼x½ ds izfrdwy ugha tkrk] blfy,] ;kphx.k dk mi;qZDr ifji= ij vk{ksi xq.kkxq.k jfgr gSA ;kphx.k ;g izdV djus esa vlQy jgs gSa fd mi;qZDr ifji= fdl rjg vf/kfu;e ds mica/kksa ls ij ;k vf/kdkfjrk jfgr ¼2012½ 6 ,l lh lh 1] ¼2012½ 6 ,l lh lh 102 rFkk ¼2014½ 8 ,l lh lh 1 vuqlfjrA
¼2½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku & vuqPNsn 21d rFkk 45 & fu%’kqYd vkSj vfuok;Z cky f’k{kk dk vf/kdkj vf/kfu;e] 2009 & /kkjk 12] ijarqd & 6 o”kZ ls 14 o”kZ rd ds leLr ckydksa dk f’k{kk dk ewy vf/kdkj & ls vfHkizsr & /kkjk 12 ds ijarqd ds v/khu & 6 o”kZ ls uhps ds fofufnZ”V ckyd Hkh ,sls izos’k dk fof/kd vf/kdkj j[krs gSaA
¼iSjk 20½
¼3½ fu%’kqYd vkSj vfuok;Z cky f’k{kk dk vf/kdkj vf/kfu;e] 2009 & /kkjk 6 rFkk 12¼1½¼x½ & ;fn vf/kfu;e ds izo`r gksus ls rhu o”kZ ds Hkhrj & jkT; }kjk fo|ky; LFkkfir ugha fd, x, & rhu o”kZ O;ixr gksus ds i’pkr~ & /kkjk 12 ds mica/kksa dk izHkko lekIr ugha gksrkA
¼iSjk 26½
¼4½ fu%’kqYd vkSj vfuok;Z cky f’k{kk dk vf/kdkj vf/kfu;e] 2009 & /kkjk 12¼1½¼x½ & mica/k ds v/khu mica/k & d{kk dh la[;k dh 25 izfr’kr dh lhek rd izos’k ds fy, & leLr izkFkfed fo|ky; d{kk dsth] dsth&1 rFkk dsth&2 vkfn dks Hkh ykxw gksrs gSaA
¼iSjk 27½
¼5½ fu%’kqYd vkSj vfuok;Z cky f’k{kk dk vf/kdkj vf/kfu;e] 2009 & /kkjk 12¼1½¼x½ & e-iz- fu%’kqYd vkSj vfuok;Z f’k{kk dk vf/kdkj fu;e] 2011 & fu-2¼1½¼V½ rFkk 2¼1½¼t½ & fu;e 2¼1½¼V½ ds v/khu d{kk 1 ds fy, fofgr iM+ksl dh lhek & ls vfHkizsr & fu;e 2¼1½¼t½ ds v/khu iM+ksl dh foLrkfjr lhek & izkFkfed fo|ky; esa izos’k ds fy, Hkh ykxw gksrh gSA
¼iSjk 33 ls 35½
¼6½ fu%’kqYd vkSj vfuok;Z cky f’k{kk dk vf/kdkj vf/kfu;e] 2009 & /kkjk 12¼2½ & fo|ky; }kjk fd, x, O;; dh izfriwfrZ ds fy, mica/k & /kkjk 12¼2½ ds v/khu micaf/kr gSa & ;g rdZ fd ,slk dksbZ mica/k ugha gS & xq.kkxq.k jfgr gSA
¼iSjk 36 ,oa 37½
1. This order will govern the disposal of Writ Petitions No.10546/2013, 5328/2011, 992/2012, 10955/2013, 1836/2014, 1881/2014, 1910/2014, 1928/2014, 1930/2014 and 2044/2014 since all these writ petitions involve the same issue in similar fact situation.
2. For convenience, the facts have been noted from Writ Petition No.10546/2013.
3. In brief, the case of the petitioner is that it is a registered society running a unaided school which also has pre-school classes. The petitioner had submitted the declaration form under rule 11 of the Right to Education Rules, 2011 in the prescribed Form No.1 and it was granted recognition under rule 11(4) of the Rules. The grievance of the petitioner had started when on the basis of the Circular dated 16.1.2013 the show-cause notice dated 26.8.2013 was issued to the petitioner to allocate 25% of the strength of children to the weaker section of society in the pre school classes, i.e., Nursery (Pre-KG), KG-1 (LKG), KG-1 (UKG) and Class 1. Hence the petitioner has filed this writ petition challenging the Circular dated 16.1.2013 and the show cause notice dated 26.8.2013.
4. A reply has been filed by the respondents taking the stand that the provisions of RTE Act is applicable to the pre-school classes also and the petitioner is required to comply with the same and give admission to the student of weaker section of society to the extent of 25% in pre-school.
5. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners have submitted that the Right to Education Act is applicable only to the children of age group of 6 to 14 years and to the schools from Class I and is not applicable to pre-schools and children below 6 years, therefore, the impugned circular and the showcause notice cannot be sustained and the petitioners cannot be forced to give admission to the students of weaker section in the pre-school classes. They have also submitted that their liability to give admission in pre-school classes to the extent of 25% has come to an end after expiry of 3 years in terms of section 6 of the Act. In some of the writ petition, argument about neighbourhood and reimbursement has also been advanced.
6. Counsel for the respondents has supported the impugned action.
7. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.
8. The first issue which has been raised by counsel for the petitioners is about the applicability of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (for short “RTE Act”) to pre-school classes i.e. Nursery, KG-1, KG-2 etc.
9. The RTE Act has been enacted to provide for free and compulsory education to the children. Though in the preamble, in definition Clause 2(c), 2(f) and section 3 of the Act the children between the age group of 6 to 14 have been included, but the Act in addition to making provision for the children between the age group of 6 to 14 also contains certain provisions for the children below the age of 6 years.
10. Section 2(n) of the Act defines ‘School’ and under section 2(n)(iv) the recognized unaided schools not receiving any kind of aid or grant to meet the expenses from the appropriate Government or the local authority and imparting elementary education, are covered within the meaning of school. Section 2(n)(iv) reads as under :
“2. Definitions. -- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
(n) “school” means any recognised school imparting elementary education and includes --
(i) *** *** ***
(ii) *** *** ***
(iii) *** *** ***
(iv) an unaided school not receiving any kind of aid or grant to meet its expenses from the appropriate Government or the local authority.”
11. Undisputedly all the writ petitioner schools before this Court are covered within the meaning of school as defined in section 2(n)(iv) of the Act.
12. Section 12 of the Act provides for the extent of school’s responsibility for free and compulsory education. Section 12(1)(c) and proviso to section 12 which is relevant for the present controversy, read as under :
“12. Extent of schoo
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