High Court Issues Notice To Karnataka Govt On Plea Against Withdrawal Of National Education Policy

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday issued notice to the State government on a public interest litigation filed by Girish Bharadwaj and another, seeking a direction to continue with implementation of National Education Policy 2020 which was withdrawn by the present Congress government, last year.

A division bench of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind issued notice and posted the matter for further hearing on August 1.

During the hearing the court orally observed, “How can we direct the government to follow a particular policy and not to follow a particular policy.”

Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam appearing for the petitioners submitted the idea was that there should be One Nation, One Education.

The court however asked Petitioner if there was any particular aspect of the policy, whose absence was having adverse effects. “What makes you aggrieved by the withdrawal of the policy. What are the specific aspects in the policy which now stands withdrawn which make you aggrieved? Generally saying that policy was introduced and now withdrawn is no ground. Otherwise it is too vague a petition. The Government may have its own valid reasons to not follow the policy.”

Following which it issued notice to the respondents and adjourned the hearing. The court also said it would on the next date consider the application filed by the petitioners seeking placing on record additional documents.

The State government had in 2023 withdrawn the implementation of the NEP and constituted an Expert committee to formulate the state education policy.

The petitioners sought a direction to quash this order dated October 11, 2023 passed by Department of Higher Education and to direct the State to continue with the implementation of NEP.

By way of interim relief, the petitioners seek that till disposal of the matter the Court stay the Constitution of the Commission for framing State Education Policy.

Case Title: Girish Bharadwaj & ANR AND State of Karnataka & Others Case No: WP 5838/2024