Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has paved the way for the new academic year to begin on April 7, dismissing a petition by three parents challenging the state government’s March 28, 2025, notification. The division bench, hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Savio Norvin Menezes and two others, rejected claims that holding classes during peak summer would harm students’ health, finding no merit in their arguments.
The court accepted the government’s assurance that classes would run only until 11.30 am till April 30 to mitigate summer heat concerns. As per the notification, Classes VI to X and Class XII will start on April 7, while Classes I to V and Class XI will begin in June.
The early start aligns with the state’s efforts to synchronize Goa’s academic calendar with national standards, a move officials say will benefit students in competitive exams.
This ruling follows an earlier dismissal on March 24 of a separate PIL by Manuel Sidney Antao and seven other parents. That petition had contested a January 30, 2025, Directorate of Education circular, arguing it violated Rule 21 of the Goa Education Act 1984 and Rules by advancing the academic year start. The court had similarly found no grounds to
intervene.
The public interest litigations followed protests by parents, activists and a section of the academic community to the revised calendar, which they claimed was taken without proper consultation with key stakeholders.