State should implement right to education of children: HC
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 16
The Goa Bench of Bombay High Court today ruled that the State government shall take necessary steps to implement mandate of article 21 (A) of the Indian constitution which deals with fundamental right to education of children between 6 to 14 years of age.
Disposing off the petition filed by two book vendors in the state, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Swanter Kumar and Justice Nelson Britto ruled that the state government should implement the mandate of the Article.
The article 21 (A) deals with the free and compulsory education to all the children between 6 to 14 years in such a manner, the state, may determine by law.
Two book vendors Narayan Narvekar from Marcel and Santosh Shirodkar from Valpoi had petitioned high court in 2005 with the plea that the text books should be made available for sale much in advance, before the starting of academic year.
The petitioners, represented by Advocate Amrut Kansar, had mentioned that many a times, the books were delivered late causing immense difficulty for the vendors. They had also demanded that the books should be made available at 15 per cent discount rate.
Advocate Vivek Rodrigues, representing the state government, argued that the case does not stand as books are given to the students, free of cost, under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan.
He pointed out that all the books till the age of 14 are given free of cost.
The bench took the opinion of government advocate on board and disposed off the petition.
The sources in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan stated that the students in government primary school up to fourth standard are given free books by the state government.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan provides free text books to the aided schools upto fourth standard and all the government and aided schools from fourth to eighth standard.
The rough estimates revealed that around 1.5 lakh students are benefited with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan scheme which was launched in the state since last year.
