NARENDRA MANDAL Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The above Public Interest Litigation raises the question of change of the name of school from Utkarmit Uchch Madhyamik School, Taridabil, Khaira, Jamui to Utkarmit Uchch Madhyamik School, Dabil, Khaira, Jamui. The petitioner is concerned with the change of the name of the Panchayat; from Taridabil to Dabil.

(2.) It is the contention of the petitioner that as could be seen from the documents produced as Annexure-1 series, students have passed out the Secondary School Examination of 2022 from the school with its name shown in the certificate as UHS, Taridabil (Upgraded Higher Secondary School, Taridabil) having Code No. 22421, as issued by the District Education Officer, Jamui. It is the contention of the petitioner that those who have passed out from the school and appointed in the Army and Para Military Forces would be prejudiced when verification of their passing out school is made by the Appointing Authority. It is asserted that if need be, the Senior Secondary status of the school; i.e. the upgradation can be done away with so as to maintain the name of the village in which the donor of the lands for the establishment of the school hail from. It is also the contention of the petitioner that the present Principal of the school has hatched a conspiracy with the villagers of Dabil to change the name of the school from Taridabil to Dabil. Many villagers, it is said, have raised a complaint regarding the change of name of the school.

(3.) We are unable to comprehend as to how the change in the name of a school would prejudicially affect the public. The donors of the land, in which the school has been established, cannot have any further say in the matter, especially when the intention was to facilitate education in the village. It is also puerile to contend that the upgradation should be done away with for the purpose of retaining the school's name.