Calcutta High Court Seeks State's Response On PIL Against 'Biswa Bangla' Logo On Govt School Uniform

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday sought response from the State government in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition against the decision of the West Bengal government to introduce blue-and-white coloured uniforms for students in all State-run schools which will also feature the 'Biswa Bangla' logo.

According to a notification dated March 16 issued by the Paschim Banga Samagra Siksha Mission, students of all government, semi-government and government-aided schools in Bengal will have a common uniform in a blue and white colour scheme which will also feature the Bengal government's 'Biswa Bangla' logo. The 'Biswa Bangla' campaign was launched to promote the sale of traditional Bengali handicrafts and textiles and it was adopted as the State logo in January 2018.

The PIL filed by petitioner one Soumen Halder seeks an interim stay of such a notification and further avers that encryption of logos in the uniforms of students is a 'political stunt' by the TMC-led government.

Taking cognisance of the grievance raised, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj directed the State government to file an affidavit-in-opposition within 4 weeks. The petitioner was further ordered to file a reply to the affidavit-in-opposition within 2 weeks thereafter. 

Accordingly, the matter was listed for further hearing on August 1.

All district magistrates have been asked to focus on the "supply of school uniform to students" for which the Department of MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) and Textiles has been roped in. The uniforms will be made by self-help groups under the supervision of the department. 

"The Department of MSME and Textiles with the approval of the competent authority issued a specification for manufacturing and supply of school uniform, shoes and bags. The guidelines and specifications are attached for your reference," the notification reads.

Earlier, the West Bengal government had undertaken a new colour scheme as part of which all government office buildings, including police stations, and public infrastructure were painted blue and white. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had also announced a property tax rebate for people painting their houses in blue and white.

Case Title: Soumen Halder v. The State Of West Bengal & ors