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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking inclusion of “Legal Studies” as a subject in all schools.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said that taking a decision on teaching "legal studies" to school children falls in the domain of the government authorities as it is a "matter of policy".

The bench also stated that the plea was a "sheer misuse" of the forum.

“Where is the right to demand that this particular stream be made part of the curriculum? Tomorrow some child would come to us and say I want astrophysics as a subject. There are other important subjects also. This is purely a matter within the domain of the government. This is sheer misuse of the forum”, CJ Sharma remarked orally.

The PIL filed by Virander Kumar Sharma Punj and Shubham Pushp Sharma through Advocate Meghverna Sharma sought directions to the Centre, Delhi government, CBSE, and others to create an adequate number of regular posts of Law Graduate Teachers on a permanent basis to impart legal studies in every school.

Sharma, on behalf of the petitioners, contended that legal education is a "basic subject" and the soul of the Constitution, and following CBSE's announcement that they have added "legal studies" as a subject, serious steps must be taken in this regard.

She cited a 2013 news report, wherein the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had said that legal studies would be offered as a subject in classes XI and XII on a pilot basis in 200 schools. However, Sharma contended that the government has not done much in respect of it.

Furthermore, the counsel contended that subjects like Artificial Intelligence (AI) have also been made part of the curriculum and that the students want to study law as well.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma appearing for Centre stated that government has its own initiatives like 'Know your Constitution' for people, who are willing to know more about the law.

Taking note of the submissions, the court said, “The central government is already doing a good job. The petition is dismissed”.

Case Title: Virander Kumar Sharma Punj & Anr. v. GNCTD & Ors.