SC Rejects Plea To Incorporate Sikh History In School Syllabus Across India [Read Order]

What shall be taught in the schools or what shall be included in the syllabus of all classes cannot be directed by this court in exercise of power of judicial review, said the bench.

The Supreme Court has rejected a plea to incorporate detailed life history and teachings of all 10 Sikh Gurus along with Guru Granth Sahib in syllabus of all classes in history books for teaching.

Subhash Chander Katyal had approached the apex court seeking a direction to the Union of India and all the states and union territories to incorporate detailed life history and teachings of all 10 Sikh Gurus, along with Guru Granth Sahib, in syllabus of all the classes in history books for teaching. He contended that the life history of Sikh Gurus and history of Sikhs were not given appropriate place in history books whereas there is mention of other historical personalities and different rulers.

Unimpressed, the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra told the petitioner that it could not direct what shall be taught in the schools or what shall be included in the syllabus of all classes.

Dismissing his plea, the bench further said: “Any litigant should not feel, when he files a public interest litigation,  that his hope and aspirations for anything and everything deserves to crystalise. He should not harbour the feelings that for any idea to be fructified, he can knock at the doors of this Court under Article 32 of the Constitution of India.”

Read the Order here.