Education is in Concurrent List; how can we stop States: Delhi High Court on plea seeking common school syllabus across India

The Delhi High Court on Monday asked BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay how it can pass directions to implement common syllabus in mother tongue in all schools across the country when education falls under the Concurrent list of the Constitution and each State has its own State education board/ syllabus..A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna asked how States can be restricted from having different curriculum.“How can we do this [pass directions for one nation, one education board]? There are state boards everywhere. What do we do about the lists? States have the right. How can we restrict them,” the Court asked..Upadhyay submitted that there is an order by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court on this issue and it is a matter of equal opportunity.He further said that there are all-India level exams for admission to medical and engineering courses and jobs as well..Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Manmohan responded that Upadhyay in his plea has only referred to a portion of the Supreme Court judgment. “You have only filed the judgement till para 10. It is not the whole judgement and you are reading the headnotes. Headnotes are the interpretation and not the whole judgement.”Upadhyay said that the Central government and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has already filed their replies to the petition butthe Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) has not filed its reply. .The Court also impleaded National Council of Educational Research and Training as a party to the case and issued notice to them.All the respondents were asked to file their responses in the matter.The case will now be heard on May 14..Upadhyay filed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) arguing that different syllabus and curriculum by CBSE, ISCE and State Board is arbitrary and contrary to Articles 14, 15, 16, 21, 21A and other provisions of the constitution therefore void and inoperative.He said that the syllabus and curriculum is common for all entrance examinations like JEE, NEET, NDA, CLAT and others but the syllabus and curriculum of CBSE, ICSE and State Board are totally different.“Education Mafias are very powerful and have a very strong syndicate. They influence rules, regulations, policies & examinations. The questions asked in the competitive exams are not taught in government schools. So, parents are in double jeopardy. First, they ·have to pay massive fees to private schools… and then pay unbearable heavy fees to coaching centers too,” the petition said.It was argued that the present education system isn't only dividing the society among EWS, BPL, MIG and HIG Elite Class but also against 'socialism, secularism, fraternity, unity and integrity of the nation'.