Anand and Anand on behalf of the Federation of Educational Publishers in India and Private School’s Association & Children Welfare Association filed a writ petition before the Uttarakhand High Court challenging the recent circulars passed by the Government of Uttarakhand directing all schools to prescribe only NCERT books from classes I to XII and also prohibiting teaching through guides and reference books.
Apart from having a direct impact on the quality of education a student receives, these coercive and arbitrary circulars interfere with the autonomy of schools especially with regard to the creative and innovative methods that schools may employ to impart education. They also directly impact the right of trade of educational publishers by curtailing their market.
Noting our argument that the said circulars violate the fundamental rights of the petitioners under 19(1)(a) &19 (1)(g)[freedom of speech and expression and freedom of trade], the learned Single Judge has in the interim ordered stay of the said circulars. Apart from NCERT books, the Judge has permitted schools to make available other books as far as practicable at competitive rates (as compared to NCERT books). The matter is now listed on May 3, 2018, for final arguments.
Being a critical issue which has wide ramifications, the proceedings were extensively covered in the media at every stage.
etc. whilst wrongfully claiming to be part of our firm and making false claims and allegations.