Facing flak over organising an essay competition in schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Christmas, the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development on Wednesday extended the online contest to December 26 as well. The competition, a part of the CBSE expression series, marks Good Governance Day.
The Centre informed the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that entries to the essay competition will be accepted on both December 25 and 26. The Centre’s response came on a public interest writ petition alleging that a competition being held on a religious holiday violated the secular spirit of the Constitution, as well as the right of Christians to celebrate their festival.
The Narendra Modi government is observing December 25, the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya, as Good Governance Day.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice P.S. Teji observed during the hearing of the case that no child should be denied the opportunity to participate in the contest. Senior advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, contended that students will “lose out on the opportunity” to take part if the contest was held on Christmas.
Petitioner P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu, general-secretary, State Platform for Common School System, Tamil Nadu, sought withdrawal of the Ministry circular asking the educational institutions to celebrate December 25 as Good Governance Day.
When Additional Solicitor-General Sanjay Jain pointed out that such competitions were often held on festivals like Onam, the Court said the issue involved in the present instance was about children who will not able to participate.
The Bench asked the Union Government to immediately give “wide publicity” through print and electronic media and radio to the extension of competition, apart from notifying schools about it, as the contest will include children studying in government schools situated in remote areas of the country.
