NIKHIL KR. KHAN Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Writ Petitioners herein are the Instructors of Non formal Educational Centres within West Bengal. In this Writ Petition since the Petitioners claimed that they have common cause of action, naturally they moved a single Writ Petition. Along with this Writ Petition 19 other Writ Petitions on the identical cause of action which are mentioned herein below have been heard and are being disposed of by a common order passed in this Writ Petition.

(2.) According to the petitioners in 1977 Planning Commission was set up to consider universalisation of education amongst the children of economically disadvantageous rural Sec. of the community. The Government of India 1979-80 introduced Non Formal Educational Scheme for some educationally backward areas including West Bengal. The Government of India as well as the State Government and the administration of the Union Territory adopted a policy decision to universalisation elementary education in order to achieve one goal of educational development as a part of the Minimum Needs Programme as well as the Twenty Point Programme, 1986.

(3.) By and through the said policy, it was decided to ensure that all children who attained the age of about 11 years by 1990 would have atleast 5 years of schooling or its equivalent through the non-formal strength and likewise by 1995 all children would be provided compulsory education upto 14 years of age. The policy has been adopted to impart education upto a certain level.