BALDEV SINGH Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD Mr. D.K. Joshi and Mr. Pradeep Hairiya, Advocate for the petitioners, Mr. N.P. Sah, Standing Counsel and Mr. Anil Kumar Bisht, Brief Holder for the State of Uttarakhand, Mr. V.B.S. Negi, Assistant Solicitor General for the Union of India, Mr. Sudhir Singh, Advocate for the National Council for Teacher Education and Ms. Seema Sah, Ms. Geeta Parihar and Mr. Asif Ali, Advocates for the "Uttarakhand Vidyalayi Shiksha Parishad".

(2.) WHILE one may take a just pride in the progress the country has made since its independence, yet one cannot fail to notice some crucial sectors which remained rather neglected. "Elementary education", being one of them.

(3.) ALL the same, things are now looking for better with the Right to Education being incorporated as a Fundamental Right, in Part III of the Constitution of India, vide Constitution (Eighty Sixth Amendment) Act. The newly incorporated provision which is Article 21 -A of the Constitution of India reads as follows : - "21 -A. Right to education. - The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine."