PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has disposed of the Petition challenging the start of the academic year on April 1. The court noted that the government will notify a new rule this week, revising the start dates.
As per the notification classes of Standard VI to X and XII will start from second week of April 2025, while classes of Standard I to V and XI will begin in June, Advocate General Devidas Pangam told Herald Media. The Summer vacation will be in the month of May.
Adv. Vivek Rodrigues, counsel for the petitioners, announced on Monday that the Bombay High Court has passed an order which was in consonance of a statement made by the Advocate General.
In a significant development, the Court heard the submissions of the counsel for the petitioner which urged that the State Government had failed to comply with the mandatory requirements under Section 29 of the School Education Act, specifically with regard to notifying changes to the academic calendar.
The Court observed that the draft notification for the amendment of rule 21 of the Goa Education rules had provided an insufficient 5-day window for objections, which was acknowledged by the Advocate General. The Government has now agreed to accept objections until March 27th, 2025.
The Court also noted that the draft amendment itself requires a 7-day break between the last day of the previous academic year and the reopening of classes. Significantly, the petitioners' rights to challenge the fresh notification have been kept open, Adv Rodrigues said.
The exact date of reopening will be determined after considering the objections received, Adv Rodrigues opined.
Adv. Vivek Rodrigues hailed the order as a victory for the petitioners and the larger community, emphasizing that the Court's decision upholds the principles of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.