Circular mandating CBSE schools to buy NCERT books stayed
The Madras high court has stayed the operation of a circular issued by the CBSE.
Chennai: The Madras high court has stayed the operation of a circular issued by the CBSE, mandating the CBSE schools to buy NCERT books alone for their students. Justice N. Kirubakaran granted the interim stay and posted to August 4, further hearing of the petition filed by an association of managements of private schools (CBSE). The judge said the CBSE had earlier issued a circular dated February 6, 2014, by which the schools could choose the text books as prescribed by NCERT/CBSE (i.e) either from NCERT or from private publishers. Having given such right or option, the CBSE issued the present circular dated April 6, 2017. The circular was in contrast to the earlier circular, which was being followed by the schools. However, it was open to the CBSE to conduct an enquiry and find out the books which were costly, voluminous, unscientifically designed and not fit for school curriculum, published by the private publishers and direct the schools not to buy the books from next year onwards, the judge added.
The judge said in the middle of the academic year, the CBSE cannot issue a circular prohibiting usage of private publishers’ books. First of all, CBSE has to be blamed for allowing the schools to buy private publishers books. Moreover, when the 2014 circular itself enables the CBSE schools to purchase books both from NCERT and private publishers, the present order, without giving details, cannot be passed. In view of that there shall be an order of interim stay as prayed for, the judge added.