SUPREME COURT TURNS DOWN PLEA TO INCLUDE SIKH GURUS’ HISTORY IN SCHOOL SYLLABUS

Refusing to entertain a plea for incorporating biographies of all 10 Sikh gurus in school syllabus, the Supreme Court on Monday observed that a litigant cannot knock the doors of the courts for “anything or everything”. It said courts cannot enter into the domain of what is to be taught in schools and what should be included in the syllabus.

NEWDELHI: Refusing to entertain a plea for incorporating biographies of all 10 Sikh gurus in school syllabus, the Supreme Court on Monday observed that a litigant cannot knock the doors of the courts for “anything or everything”.

It said courts cannot enter into the domain of what is to be taught in schools and what should be included in the syllabus. The apex court said it was of the view that the “broad canvas” which was “sought to be painted” in the plea does not come under the domain and sphere of a public interest litigation.

A bench of justices Dipak Misra and AM Khanwilkar made the remarks while hearing a petition seeking a direction to the Centre, all state governments and union territories to include the life history and preaching of the 10 Sikh gurus in the school syllabus.

“What the petitioner actually prays is in the nature of public interest. According to him, public interest will be served if this court will direct respondents to incorporate comprehensive history of preaching of 10 Sikh gurus. A public interest litigation has its own limitations,” the bench said.

“A litigant, when he files a PIL, knows that concept of locus has been diluted but that does not give anyone the hope and aspiration A litigant cannot knock the doors of the courts for ‘anything or everything’. The ‘broad canvas’ which was ‘sought to be painted’ in the plea does not come under the domain and sphere of a public interest litigation. SUPREME COURT BENCH that for anything or everything, they can knock at the doors of courts under Article 226 and Article 32 of the Constitution,” the court said.

The counsel appearing for the petitioner told the bench that life history and preaching of the Sikh gurus should be incorporated in the school syllabus as these facts have not been given in the school books.

He contended that school books mention about other personalities and historical rulers and the government should be directed to include facts about the Sikh gurus as well.

The court, while disposing of the plea, said: “Without entering into the merits what shall be taught in the schools and what shall be included in syllabus of all classes cannot be directed by this court.”