SHEO SHANKAR DAS Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present writ petition has been filed in the form of Public Interest Litigation being aggrieved by printing of word "Harijan" in Chapter-5 "Apna Bharosa" 2nd line from top of page 13 of Bal Bharti-Bhag-3 and other text books like Adhunik Bharat, Class-VIII, Bal Bharti, Bhaag-VII, Class-V and Hamara Bharat Samasya Aur Chunautiya, Class-VIII published by Bihar State Test Book Publishing Corporation Limited as well as the word "Harijan" used in a news items published in Prabhat Khabar a Hindi daily on 5th Feb., 2009. It has been contented before us that in spite of directions issued from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes in its meeting dated 16.10.2007 vide letter no. 6/6/NCSC 2007-C. Cell dated November 27, 2007 not to use the word "Dalit" as interchangeable with S.Cs in future still the textbooks contain the words "Dalit" and "Harijan".

(2.) Under the above circumstances, we are of the opinion that if the petitioner is so aggrieved of the words "Dalit" and "Harijan" liberty is given to him to make a representation bringing into notice the communication received from the National Commission for S.Cs to the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Bihar not to use the words "Dalit" and "Harijan" from (sic-in?) the text-books in (sic--from?) the next commencing academic year and as and when such representation is made the concerned authority shall dispose of the same in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible before printing of the text-books for the next academic session commences. With the above observation, the writ petition stands disposed of.