HC upholds Diocesan Society’s right to administer schools

BENCH QUASHES EDU DEPT LETTERS, AFFIRMS CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM IN STAFF APPOINTMENTS AND MANAGEMENT

- THE GOAN | NETWORK

In a significant ruling upholding the constitutional autonomy of minority educational institutions, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has held that the Diocesan Society of Education is entitled to manage its schools and appoint staff according to its own procedures, subject to compliance with prescribed eligibility norms.

“We deem it appropriate to declare that the petitioner-society being a linguistic minority, is not bound to follow the procedure prescribed therein as, according to us, the right to ‘manage and administer’, the institutions run by it in the wake of the right conferred under Article 30(1) of the Constitution do not impose any such limits or restraints on its power, as it is only bound to ensure that the quality of education is maintained by it but, as a minority institution, it must enjoy the rights

KEY COURT DIRECTIVES & OBSERVATION