Petition against provision in Uniform System of School Education Act

Updated on: Thursday, June 09, 2011

An organisation has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court seeking to declare a provision in the Tamil Nadu Uniform System of School Education (Amendment) Act as unconstitutional and ultra vires Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

In his petition, P.B.Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System, said when the matter pertaining to the Samacheer system was still sub judice, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday passed a Bill amending Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Uniform System of School Education Act.

The amendment removed the schedule of implementation and also gave an unfettered discretion for the government to choose a date for implementing the Act. The government had given time only till June 15 for printing, publishing and distributing the old textbooks. The manner in which the amendment had been passed indicated the government's motive to frustrate the principal Act.

The change in the provision was violative of Article 14 of the Constitution as it frustrated the principles of equality that was sought to be implemented in the school education.

The reason given by the government for bringing in the amendment, particularly that of the quality of textbooks, was not supported by material records. The State had ignored the stress and trauma factor that would affect the children due to confusion on what they should read.

Petition against provision in Uniform System of School Education Act

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