NARESH GANGARAM GOSAVI Vs. CHEMBUR ENGLISH SCHOOL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitions raise interesting questions about liability of the State to reimburse fees for elementary and secondary education to children belonging to backward classes and weaker sections of the society.

(2.) Petitioner Nos.1 to 5 in Public Interest Litigation No. 26 of 2011 are citizens belonging to Scheduled Castes, Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes and Special Backward Classes. Their wards are studying in various private unaided schools in the city of Mumbai and were receiving free ships/scholarships provided by the Department of Social Welfare, State of Maharashtra till 2008-09. Petitioner No.6 is the Association of Parents from Scheduled Castes, Vimukt Jati and Nomadic Tribes.

(3.) The petitioners have prayed for directions to the State Government to ensure that the schools, where students belonging to the above categories (hereinafter referred to as the specified backward classes) study, do not prevent them from attending schools and participating in school activities due to non-payment of fees/free ship/scholarship.