HC quashes single judge’s order against school mergers

Cuttack: Orissa high court on Tuesday set aside a single judge’s order quashing the decision to merge schools having very low student strength, observing that the govt’s rationalisation policy cannot be held illegal “if carried out judiciously”.The school and mass education department issued a notification for the merger of nearly 16,000 schools on March 11, 2020. The single-judge HC bench quashed the notification and directed the department to restore the position of the schools and provide necessary infrastructure for their smooth running on May 4, 2021. By then, around 4,500 schools had been merged.On May 13 that year, the state govt filed an appeal challenging the single judge’s order. Acting on it, a division bench of issued an interim stay order on the single judge’s order on July 20, 2021.While quashing the order on Tuesday, the division bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice M S Raman said, “In our considered view, the policy of rationalisation and consolidation cannot be considered to be violative of any statutory provision. We do not agree with the reason assigned by the single judge that the policy decision is bad because the roll strength of a school is a criterion for consolidation/integration/upgradation of schools.”“The law requires a child’s right to elementary education in accordance with the provisions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act or Odisha Right to Education (ORTE) Rules,” the bench said.“Consolidation of schools in the manner it has been decided to be undertaken by the state govt under its policy, if carried out judiciously, cannot be said to be violating any provision under the Act or Rules until it is demonstrated on a case-to-case basis that its implementation has impacted access to education,” it added.The bench further said, “The rationalisation policy cannot be held to be illegal merely on the ground that there is no such prescription under the RTE Act or ORTE Rules. The validity of such a policy could be successfully challenged only when they were shown to be defeating the provisions of the RTE Act or ORTE Rules and thereby Article 21A of the Constitution.”The bench also noted that the rationalisation policy is in tune with the communication issued by the department of school education and literacy regarding rationalisation of small schools across the state for better efficiency on July 7, 2017.

Orissa high court upholds state's school merger policy, overturns previous ruling

The Orissa High Court upheld the State's policy to merge schools with low enrollment, overturning a Single Judge's order. The policy, which consolidates nearly 16,000 schools, was deemed not to violate any statutory provisions. The court emphasized that the policy aligns with the Ministry of Human Resource Development's guidelines for improving school efficiency.

Plea on Rohingya kids schooling policy matter: HC

The Delhi High Court dismissed a plea to enrol Rohingya refugee children in local schools, citing it as a policy issue with security implications. Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela emphasized that the matter involves international and national security concerns, directing the petitioner to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for a resolution.

5 Popular schools in Mumbai's Palghar one can consider for quality education

Palghar District in Maharashtra, known for its cultural richness and scenic beauty, is home to various educational institutions. Notable schools include St. Xaviers High School, St. John International School, Saint Francis School, Viraj Shri Ram Centennial School, and Tree House High School, offering affordable, quality education with diverse curricular and extracurricular activities.

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