J U D G M E N T

CHANDRA DHARI SINGH, J.

“अन्नदानं परं दानं विद्यादानं अतः परम्।

1. The aforequoted subhasitam clearly lays down the merits of imparting education. It is stated that charity by way of giving food to a person is a great deed, but giving vidyā (education) is even better, since the satisfaction (obtained) from consuming food is momentary, but that (obtained) from vidyā lasts a lifetime. This probably could be translated, not precisely yet contextually, to the saying 'Give a man a fish, you feed him once. Teach him to fish and you feed him for life'. Thus, the charity of imparting education is the greatest of all charities. Imparting education is a charitable cause and a calling that cannot be allowed to be metamorphosed into a platform for profiteering.

2. Mahatma Gandhi in his thoughts on Nai Talim (New Education) expressed that the basic education should be free and compulsory for all persons between the ages of seven to fourteen irrespective of their economic backgrounds. His thoughts are reproduced hereunder:

“I am a firm believer in the principle of free and compulsory primary education for India. I also hold that we shall realize this only by teaching the children a us