Allahabad HC: Board Secretary Has Authority Over Class 10 & 12 Textbooks
Board Secretary holds power to prescribe textbooks for classes 10 & 12.
Top Summary
- What happened: Allahabad High Court affirmed the authority of the Board Secretary, Prayagraj, to prescribe textbooks for classes 10 and 12.
- Why it matters: Clarifies the roles and responsibilities concerning educational material selection in Uttar Pradesh.
- What changes for people: Provides clarity on the approval process for textbooks and avoids confusion among publishers.
- Who is affected: The Board of High School and Intermediate Education, textbook publishers, and students in classes 10 and 12 in Uttar Pradesh.
High Court Upholds Board Secretary's Authority
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that the secretary of the Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Prayagraj, has the authority to prescribe textbooks.
The ruling concerns studies in classes 10 and 12.
The Case Details
A two-judge bench, comprising Justices Niraj Tiwari and Garima Prasad, issued the order.
The order came in response to a petition filed by M/s Rajiv Prakashan, challenging an order from the Board secretary.
The court order is dated February 19.
Implications for Publishers
The court clarified that M/s Rajiv Prakashan cannot be restricted from publishing or selling books.
This is provided they do not violate the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Course Books Act.
"...the petitioner cannot be restrained from publishing books or selling them in the open market if it is not committing any violation of the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Course Books Act."
What to Watch Next
The Board is likely to release further guidelines for textbook selection, potentially affecting publishers and the availability of educational materials for the upcoming academic year. Any future challenges to the Board's decisions regarding textbooks will be closely monitored.